That's what Gerry Adams thinks of discussing "education reform, water charges, health and rates increases" when the assembly reconvenes on Monday. He has said that his party, Sinn Fein, will not take part in any discussion on these matters, and has criticised the SDLP for not saying they will be equally irresponsible.

It's not like discussing the issues would alter the 24th November deadline, which has already been imposed, for the Assembly to approve an executive, which is after all Sinn Fein's main current objective. It's fairly safe to say the election of the executive will only take place in the last breath before the deadline, such is the flair for the dramatic in local politics. The question is, would our local representatives discussing the above issues in the mean time, in an attempt to hold direct rule ministers to account while they try to agree an executive, be "pointless" as Gerry Adams says, or is this just a case of Sinn Fein throwing the toys out of the pram because they're determined to get their power-hungry mits on lucrative executive posts as quickly as possible?