Fresh talks with a new face - but will it make a difference?

Well after more than a decade - we may be facing direct rule again on the 7th of February – if parties here can’t reach a deal.

Secretary of State Karen Bradley says that is the latest date she will be reporting back to the UK government on the process.

MLA pay and a fresh election would also be looked at and ultimately other arrangements'' she warned.

Now many politicians have opposed to any form of direct rule – especially now when the DUP are propping up the Tory government.

There doesn’t seem to be any end in the bitter row between Sinn Fein and the DUP – and without an agreement between the two – the assembly simply won’t be restored.

The difference this time round is that talks will be intense and short, it will involve all five parties.

But with a number of missed deadlines and no change in stance from the DUP OR Sinn Fein – will these talks actually change anything… and will the new SoS stick to her word and impose direct rule if they fail?

Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said a deal must be secured in weeks rather than months''

Mr Coveney said all parties were very conscious of the time pressures''.

I think we are talking about weeks rather than months here,'' said the Irish deputy prime minister.

The pressures have been building for some months now in the context of decisions that need political input from a devolved government here in Northern Ireland that can't be made in the absence of the being possible.'