A High Court judge has reserved judgment in a fresh legal challenge over the Northern Ireland Executive's failure to adopt an Irish language strategy, a duty outstanding since 2006.

Conradh na Gaeilge brought judicial review proceedings against the Executive and the Department for Communities, alleging an unlawful refusal to act. The obligation arises from the St Andrews Agreement and two previous courts have declared Stormont in breach.

During the hearing, the court was told that no strategy will be adopted before the current Assembly term ends in May 2027. Senior counsel for the Department did not oppose a declaration of unlawfulness against the Executive but questioned the effectiveness of a mandatory order given wider budgetary pressures.

Karen Quinlivan KC, for the language group, argued that another declaration alone would be insufficient. She said the Executive had shown contempt for previous court orders and that without a coercive order it would continue to ignore its legal duties.

Ms Quinlivan submitted that a mandatory order was necessary to uphold the rule of law, asserting that further declarations would signal the court had resigned itself to ineffectiveness and that the administration could disregard rulings with impunity.

Mr Justice McAlinden heard submissions before reserving judgment. A ruling will be delivered at a later date.