Parties split over Stormont Committees proposal
Stormont parties are split on whether the Assembly Committees should be reformed to help with making major decisions.
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has put forward the suggestion in its latest report, which also calls on Secretary of State Karen Bradley to restart the talks process between parties.
However, ironically, the move to deal with divided parties has in fact, divided parties.
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong told Downtown/Cool FM how that system could work.
"The politicians who would be part of those committees could then have a debate, discuss the policy and issues," she said.
"They could then decide what they think is best, the same as they would have done before, put recommendations forward, only this time it would be to the Secretary of State."
The key point is that there would be no First or Deputy First Minister designated, so the Assembly would not sit again and any final decision would need to be approved by Karen Bradley.
The Sinn Féin Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said it would not be an acceptable mechanism for her party.
"I think it's a sideshow and it's the wrong approach," she said.
"All efforts should be in trying to get the institutions up and running, to have an Executive that's fully functioning, to get Assembly departments with ministers at the helm."
It was a view echoed by the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood.
"I don't believe in 'pretend parliaments'," he said.
"I believe in the full implementation of all of the Good Friday Agreement.
"If the two governments called the inter-governmental conference, came up with a package of legislation that reflects the deal that was nearly had, deals with the hard issues like language and the petition of concern, I think we could be back the very next day."
However, Ms Armstrong claimed the proposed move would not replace the efforts to get Stormont restored.
"This should be working in parallel with a talks process to get the Assembly back up and running," she said.
"It is not meant to replace government, it is there simply for the fact that was we have seen recently, we have education that is struggling with children not getting school places, we have waiting lists in health that are gathering up.
"All because we have two main parties who cannot get around the table to make a decision.
"Why should the people of Northern Ireland continue to pay for this?"
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the proposals should be considered as an interim measure.
"I think there definitely needs to be a role for Assembly members in terms of what happens going forward," he said.
"It's a great pity that we can't have devolution at a time of Brexit, with ecnmoic challenges, it's important to have the voice of elected representatives from Northern Ireland heard.
"But we also require decision making at Westminster by government ministers, because we can't have the current state of limbo, with civil servants unable to take decisions, continue for much longer."
The likelihood of the Committees being reinstated is small, with action required from the SoS before anything can happen.