The Department for Communities has confirmed to the High Court that no Irish language strategy will be delivered before the current Stormont Executive mandate ends next year.

Conradh na Gaeilge is seeking a judicial order to compel Communities Minister Gordon Lyons to implement such a strategy. The group has pursued legal action over commitments originating from the 2006 St Andrews Agreement.

The High Court has ruled twice previously that the Stormont administration breached its obligation to adopt an Irish language strategy. Judges found the failure violates the 1998 Northern Ireland Act.

Counsel for Conradh na Gaeilge, Karen Quinlivan KC, told the court that a senior Department official acknowledged in an affidavit no strategy will appear within the Executive's lifetime. She noted two prior High Court judgments deemed a one-year delay excessive.

The case involves fresh judicial review proceedings against the Executive and Minister Lyons. Quinlivan urged the judge to rule promptly on the merits.

Proceedings also addressed evidence overlap with a separate challenge by Jamie Bryson against Irish language signs at Belfast's Grand Central Station. Bryson, intervening in the case, opposed using that evidence here.

Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh of Conradh na Gaeilge stated outside court that Minister Lyons had over two years to finalise a draft begun in 2020, with no completion possible by May 2027.