An MLA has accused the Communities Minister of attacking the Irish language at every opportunity.

Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew made the claim about DUP minister Gordon Lyons during a Stormont Assembly debate. He said the minister has a different plan for Irish: one to prevent its development and ongoing growth across the island.

Gildernew said the High Court found, for the third time, that the Executive is in breach of its legal duty to adopt an Irish language strategy. He noted Conradh na Gaeilge brought the latest judicial review over the summer.

The Communities Minister has a statutory duty to bring an Irish language strategy to the Executive for consideration but has failed to do so, Gildernew said.

Gildernew also raised the minister's legal action against dual language signage at Grand Central Station and his lack of action on an anti-poverty strategy as other issues hanging over him.

He said the minister's intention is to undermine and attack the language, but he will not succeed. Gildernew described Irish as thriving and said those who love it will continue working to ensure that continues.

He called on the Communities Minister to stop working against the language and introduce an Irish language strategy to the Executive without further delay.