This echoes my own comment previously that "parties are clearly putting party-political objectives to the fore"

It also throws a clearer light on the report by the BBC, NI devolution on talks agenda, in which Martina Purdy states "Sinn Fein and the DUP claimed to be "puzzled by the optimism" coming from the governments over the possibility of an imminent resolution."

Martina Purdy also reports that "the two governments had been drawing up a paper aimed at closing the gaps".

That 'paper', if presented publicly, may just give them enough cover to retreat to their party-political trenches.