We have reached that by-now traditional phase of every Stormont political impasse where, with Christmas in the air, the secretary of state of the day invites the parties to gather for roundtable talks.
In this spirit, Chris Heaton-Harris has convened delegations from each of the five main political parties at Hillsborough Castle for talks, sharing with them the details of a financial package he hopes will ease the Executive's return.
It should be said that it can only be regarded as positive that talks of some sort are taking place. Importantly, Sinn Féin, Alliance, the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP are around the table. This has happened far too rarely in a process that the British government has allowed to focus on the whims, insecurities and neuroses of the DUP.
Read more:
John Manley: Is this choreography or yet another merry dance?
Northern Ireland ‘needs long term solutions not dangled baubles'
Government offers financial package to support return of Stormont Executive
The mere existence of talks does not guarantee progress. There were talks in July, for example, and the only thing that has happened since then is that our public services have fallen into steeper decline.
This month's strikes and industrial action by teachers, school staff and public transport workers are a vivid illustration of the problems faced by Stormont's finances. These are beset by a deficit which, by some measures, could run to £1 billion this financial year.
Having thumped our public services with his so-called punishment budget, Mr Heaton-Harris is now dangling the carrot of a promise to help put Stormont's finances on a stable and sustainable footing.
This includes public sector pay rises, reforming the model of how Northern Ireland is funded, providing additional 'stabilising' cash for Stormont, giving extra time to repay budget overspends and an expectation that revenue-raising measures will be progressed.
All of this is contingent on power-sharing being revived. By making the outline of its financial offering visible, the British government has undoubtedly increased the pressure on the DUP to return to the Executive.
A blunter message was delivered to the arriving DUP delegation by the healthcare workers gathered at Hillsborough Castle: "Get back to work."
It all turns on the DUP having the gumption to pocket whatever progress it has made on the Windsor Framework and present the financial package as a victory, however pyrrhic.
The boycott has always been unjustifiable. Now is the time for Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to bring it to an end and allow MLAs to do the jobs that, as things stand, they are being paid for not doing.
