TODAY marks two years since the DUP and Sinn Féin's joint article on how well they were working together at Stormont – published just weeks before power-sharing collapsed.
The infamous article from Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness sought to draw a line under Stormont division and dismiss criticism of the Northern Ireland Executive.
"This is what delivery looks like. No gimmicks. No grandstanding. Just ministers getting on with the work," the platform piece read, accompanied by a photo of smiling ministers.
The DUP and Sinn Féin-led executive was already under pressure over the Stormont executive's contentious Social Investment Fund (SIF) awarding a £1.7 million project to a UDA-linked organisation, Charter NI.
But within weeks of the article, the devolved government was thrown into crisis as the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal gathered pace.
Mr McGuinness resigned as deputy first minister the following January, citing the DUP's handling of the RHI controversy – triggering Stormont's collapse.
Since then, efforts to restore power-sharing have failed to reach agreement, while the RHI inquiry has heard of evidence of the dysfunctional workings of government.
The 800-word article – believed to have been penned by ex-BBC Nolan Show editor turned press secretary David Gordon – contains numerous lines that now bear little resemblance to today's political reality.
It said the DUP and Sinn Féin's differences "should not and will not stop us working together on day-to-day bread and butter issues".
"Brexit is a case in point. Our parties have opposing standpoints on this important issue. That hasn't prevented us agreeing a practical way forward as executive ministers – identifying the key priorities as the negotiations unfold," the article read.
It added: "Imagine if we had followed the example of others and decided the challenges of government were just too daunting.
"That would have opened the door to years of direct rule – Conservative ministers ruling over us without a mandate.
"Rest assured this executive is not going to abandon you to that. We are in this for the long haul."
A fresh talks process in a bid to restore devolution is not expected to begin until the new year.
