‘Radio silence’ from Stormont on an Irish language strategy, court told

The Stormont administration should face a judicial order to end its continued failure to deliver an Irish language strategy, the High Court has heard.

Counsel for a campaign group argued that the Executive Committee must be compelled to implement the long-awaited blueprint.

Conradh na Gaeilge also claimed responsibility for the ongoing delay now lies with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

A judge was told there was “radio silence” for months after an action plan had been submitted to him

Conradh na Gaeilge has been involved in a long-running legal battle over pledges to progress an initiative for the Irish language which dates back to the 2006 St Andrews Agreement.

The High Court has already ruled previously, in 2017 and again in 2022, that the power-sharing government is in breach of an obligation to adopt a blueprint.

The continued failure contravenes the 1998 Northern Ireland Act, successive judges held.

Amid an ongoing alleged violation of the legal duty, the language campaigners issued fresh judicial review proceedings against both the power-sharing cabinet and the Communities Minister.

In court on Thursday, it was claimed that the Executive Committee has mounted no defence to the challenge against it.

Karen Quinlivan KC, for Conradh na Gaeilge, said: “There is no evidential explanation or justification for their failure.

“The court can only conclude that they continue to be in breach of their statutory duty… and the only proper remedy is a mandatory order.”

She contended that Mr Lyons, as Minister with responsibility for putting a strategy in place, has also “manifestly failed in his obligation” to take action.

Mr Justice McAlinden was taken through a chronology of events since the setting up of a working group to devise an action plan for approval by the Department.

According to Conradh na Gaeilge’s case, the paper was received by the Minister in May 2024 but not brought to the Executive until 12 months later.

“There was radio silence (during this period)… just nothing,” Ms Quinlivan alleged.

Others were said to have become agitated and exasperated at the alleged lack of progress and “ever expanding timescale”.

“The Minister sat on the first paper for essentially the best part of a year,” the barrister submitted.

“The Minister lies at the heart of that delay.”

Urging the judge to compel the Stormont government to deliver on an Irish language strategy, she added: “The court can’t be allowed to be a forum for mild wrist slapping.

“The Executive Committee is happily bumbling along with no sense of urgency despite two judgments against them.”

The case continues.