Irish language activists begin legal action for the third time over failure to deliver strategy

Activists have lodged legal papers over the Executive and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons’ failure to deliver an Irish language strategy, the third such court action over the last decade.

The High Court has ruled twice previously declaring first the Executive was in breach of its duties under the law and then that the failure was “unlawful”.

Conradh na Gaeilge’s judicial review application will again ask the court to declare the failure to develop and adopt a strategy since it was made law in 2007 as unlawful and order its publication.

Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, of Conradh na Gaeilge, said an “Irish language strategy will set out the Executive’s plan to promote and develop the language over the coming 20 years”

“The original statutory duty was imposed in law in 2007. We have had two very decisive High-Court declarations since then calling for the Executive to act with urgency,” Dr Ó Tiarnaigh said, adding work should be ongoing on a second strategy rather than still waiting for the draft of a first.

“Irish language organisations have been working tirelessly…since 2021 to develop a strategy that will make a difference, helping families, parents, schools, communities and the state to develop their Irish language support structures.”

Dr Ó Tiarnaigh said: “We are incredibly disappointed…to have been left in no position but to seek further remedy from the courts. To have to return to the courts for a third time is simply unacceptable.”

Both the Executive and the communities minister “have failed to uphold their legal duties and we have seen nothing to convince us that this is in any way a priority for the minister in charge of its development”.

A Department for Communities spokesperson said, “The Department can confirm receipt of proceedings for a Judicial Review in this matter. No further comment can be made while legal proceedings are ongoing.”

Mr Lyons, due before the communities committee on Thursday, is involved in another legal action as he was granted participation status over Irish language signs at Grand Central Station.

He is arguing the decision taken by Sinn Fein Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to approve the £150,000 scheme was both controversial and cut across his own departmental responsibilities.

Niall Murphy, of KRW Law, acting on behalf of Conradh na Gaeilge, confirmed his firm has lodged proceedings.

Mr Murphy, noting the previous High Court rulings in 2017 and

The plaintiffs are looking for an order “to immediately publish a comprehensive timetable and delivery of an Irish language strategy within a reasonable period of time”.

This will include publication of “concrete steps towards and a concrete date for the adoption of an Irish language strategy”, Mr Murphy added.