THERESA MAY and Leo Varadkar left Belfast last night having failed to oversee a deal between Stormont's two largest parties.
The prime minister and taoiseach showed a brave face at their respective evening press conferences but their tone reflected disappointment and frustration.
It was a day that had begun with an expectation that a deal to restore the devolved institutions was almost ready to be signed off.
However, it became apparent by mid-morning that final agreement between the DUP and Sinn Féin had yet to be secured.
Both parties and the two leaders insist a deal is still possible but differences remain, particularly around an Irish language act.
Speaking after a series of meetings with the main Stormont parties, the taoiseach said he was "very hopeful" that agreement could be reached this week.
He said there was a "lot of work to do" but progress was going in the "right direction".
Mrs May also urged the parties to make "one final push".
Read more: What could be in a Stormont deal?
While acknowledging that differences between the DUP and Sinn Féin remained, she said "there is the basis of an agreement here".
DUP leader Arlene Foster said the tone of yesterday's discussions was "very good" – although Sinn Féin said there were no direct talks yesterday between the two parties.
"We continue to have those conversations and we will continue to have conversations with Sinn Féin around the outstanding matters and indeed with our own government as well," Mrs Foster said.
The former first minister has previously ruled out a standalone Irish language act and it is understood many of her party's representatives are unhappy with what appears to be a u-turn.
"If the public are frustrated at the pace of progress, we all are as well," she said.
Newly-appointed Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said further meetings with the DUP are required if a deal is to be struck over the coming days.
"Today we met with both governments – we did not have the opportunity to meet with the DUP," she said.
"Clearly we need to meet, clearly we need to resolve the outstanding issues."
In contrast to her DUP counterpart's apparent difficulties with her rank and file, Mrs McDonald was upbeat about her ability to sell the deal to party members.
"We believe that we are close to an agreement which, certainly, we can put to our grassroots and to the community as a whole."
She acknowledged "we are not exactly there just yet" but said "there is nothing insurmountable if there is the political will to reach an agreement".
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood claimed the taoiseach and prime minister had been "left embarrassed" by the DUP and Sinn Féin.
"The opportunity is still there to get this deal over the line but it will require a level of leadership and courage that has evaded these parties for far too long," he said.
"Instead of allowing these parties to run the show, both governments need to drive this process to a conclusion."
Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said the process needed to move to its concluding phase "very rapidly".
“The long suffering people of Northern Ireland have been subjected to over a year of self-indulgence and political posturing while waiting lists and school budgets are out of control," he said.
“It is well beyond time for the DUP and Sinn Féin to front up and reveal what agreement they have reached so far.”
Alliance leader Naomi Long said she had used a meeting with the two governments to stress the need to reform the petition of concern.
"It is vital to prevent any future difficult decisions destabilising a new executive and assembly – deferring the decision itself could create instability later if reform cannot be agreed," she said.
