Judge criticises executive over Irish language row

Mr Bryson is seeking to judicially review Ms Kimmins' decision to approve the installation of Irish signs

The Northern Ireland Executive is seen as a "laughing stock" over Irish language signs at Belfast's Grand Central Station, a High Court judge said.

Mr Justice McAlinden urged the executive to resolve the row.

In April, work to introduce the Irish language signage at the station was paused due to legal action.

The judge called on ministers to enter discussions instead of spending public money being on opposing sides in a legal battle.

Putting back a challenge mounted by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, he declared it a test for the power-sharing administration to demonstrate political consensus can be reached on issues of dispute.

"We need as a society to have a grown-up executive that works together, not adopting a silo mentality and throwing brush shafts into each other's spokes for political gain," the judge said.

"It's not working…we are being regarded as a laughing stock.

"We have moved on from killing each other, but we haven't moved much further from that," he added.

Mr Bryson is seeking to judicially review Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins' decision to approve the installation of Irish signs at Grand Central.

He claims the decision to allocate £150,000 for the train station project was controversial and cut across other Stormont departments.

He said the issue should have been brought to the Executive Committee for discussion and agreement.

By failing to take that step Ms Kimmins breached the ministerial code, Mr Bryson contends.

Infrastructure minister 'squandered public money'

DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has already been granted permission to intervene proceedings based on his opinion that the decision was cross-cutting.

With the challenge originally set for a hearing later this month, Irish language rights group Conradh na Gaeilge and TUV MLA Timothy Gaston lodged further applications for participation status.

The imminent appointments of Northern Ireland's first Irish language and Ulster-Scots commissioners were also raised.

Mr Justice McAlinden indicated the commissioners should also be consulted in a bid to defuse the argument.

Conradh na Gaeilge welcomed moves to seek the opinion of the Irish Language Commissioner, describing it as a "sensible and prudent" step.

The group's President Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, said: "We would anticipate that the commissioner will come to the conclusion that dual-language signage in shared spaces is a best practice model enjoyed and enshrined in other countries with similar circumstances, ultimately supporting the minister's original position."

TUV MP Jim Allister said he "welcomes" Mr Justice McAlinden's comments.

"The core legal contention always was that this controversial and divisive decision required executive agreement," Allister said.

"Now, after the Sinn Féin infrastructure minister has squandered public money pursuing her own agenda, she has been told she must do just that."

He added: "It is now for the DUP to make clear at the executive table that they will not allow the imposition of Irish language signage at Grand Central, and that no such agreement is possible."

BBC News NI have contacted the executive for a response.