At the best of times Northern Irish politics is rarely boring, but this week we had more twists and turns than most of us can deal with. Keeping track of it is nearly a full-time job and for the majority of us that follow it for professional reasons, it contains more anxiety than a can of Red Bull.
The Stormont Talks remain in permanent crisis mode with the DUP and Sinn Féin at loggerheads over seemingly intractable difference on issues such as a standalone Irish Language Act, marriage equality and the handling of legacy issues, to name but a few.
Both parties have publicly stated that they want to see the institutions up and running again as soon as possible but deadline after deadline have been smashed through with wanton abandon.
Heaped on top of this, we kicked off the week with the DUP sealing the deal with the Conservative party to prop up the Government with a confidence and supply arrangement that pocketed us £1bn to be pumped into health, education and infrastructure. The collective attitude back in Belfast is that we need the money for investment, so outside of a call for ensuring that the money is spent appropriately, no one is saying we don’t deserve it.
Whilst all this was going on, Belfast's Court of Appeal made a ruling on abortion in Northern Ireland, stating that it is not up to the courts to decide on abortion law but the NI Assembly (which isn’t running!). Hours later in the House of Commons, sign off was given to allow for free abortions for women from NI who wished to access services provided by NHS England. It still hasn’t dealt with the issue here, but many see this as a step in the right direction.
The Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry also sparked into life by outlining its course of action over the coming months. The call for witnesses and oral hearings have been earmarked between August and October and should provide plenty of media fodder for the foreseeable. You will recall that this was the original scandal that started the downfall of the Assembly late last year.
The Northern Ireland Secretary of State, James Brokenshire MP is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on Monday about the new deadline for the Stormont Talks. We wait with bated breath.