STALLING on potentially game changing decisions in its response to the pandemic is nothing new for Stormont.
The toxic wrangling and DUP opposition to circuit breaker restrictions before last Christmas had devastating consequences, as public messaging became diluted and infection rates soared - leaving hospitals on the brink of collapse by January.
As the Executive prepares to meet today to debate the introduction of mandatory vaccine passports, political differences have already been aired.
Former DUP economy minister Paul Frew is vociferous in his opposition and took to social media yesterday challenging doctors to show "evidence" of how vaccine certs will lead to "infection free environments".
Party colleague and agriculture minister Edwin Poots has also made clear his stance, claiming the move will create a "two-tier system".
The four other main parties support the move, with the SDLP, Sinn Féin and Alliance yesterday questioning why compulsory vaccine certs haven't been rolled sooner.
For his part, Ulster Unionist health minister Robin Swann said he believes "now is the time" to implement the scheme but on a "phased" basis - with no-one yet clear as to what this means.
During a hastily arranged press conference on Monday afternoon - following a weekend which saw ambulances diverted from Craigavon Area Hospital twice in 24 hours - Mr Swann set out his stall to media unbeknownst to his power-sharing colleagues.
While he cited high community transmission and NHS pressures for his decision to act, rocketing Covid cases and hospitalisations have been the norm for months.
As far back as late July, the Irish News first reported that two-thirds of hospitalised Covid patients were unvaccinated at a time when medics were describing A&E pressures akin to what they see in winter.
Mr Swann yesterday said that vaccine passports were just one of the "tools" to improve vaccine uptake and stem the rising tide of infections.
It is accepted that being made to show proof of vaccination to gain entry to a nightclub or restaurant will not alone solve the health service crisis.
But at a time when a quarter of the under-30s in Northern Ireland are not jabbed, it will undoubtedly incentivise uptake among younger adults.
A similar scheme was introduced in the Republic in the summer where vaccination rates are among the highest in Europe.
While the south is currently experiencing a surge in cases and hospital admissions as restrictions are relaxed and vaccine immunity wanes, it should be noted that its frontline were not facing the same difficulties in the summer similar to their northern counterparts.
As concerns mount about escalating pressures over coming months against a backdrop of a haemorrhaging and demoralised workforce, the onus is on Stormont leaders to take decisive action and use every "tool" at its disposal to tackle the crisis.
Scenes of vulnerable patients being treated in car parks on ambulance stretchers outside Antrim Area Hospital last December cannot be repeated.
