As talks continue today over whether the Stormont assembly should adjourn, members of the Social Development Committee have been debating whether they should be entitled to free hot beverages.
Alliance Party's Stewart Dickson said: "It might be helpful to have a cup of tea or coffee to commence the meeting."
TUV leader Jim Allister was against the proposal, pointing out that it costs "£500 of taxpayers' money."
Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs said: "It's not the biggest problem we face at the moment."
Committee members voted in favour of free beverages except for Mr Allister who was the sole member voting against.
A Stormont committee is due to meet today to discuss adjourning the assembly following a political crisis sparked by the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan.
"@BBCMarkSimpson: Possibly one of the last votes at Stormont, tea/coffee? pic.twitter.com/pwj2bWi6j1" put the kettle on, looks like a long break
— Ben Manton (@Ben4SBelfast) September 10, 2015
Stormont voting on free tea and coffee today ( really) ... Crisis what crisis? #onlyinNI
— RyanHaire (@RyanHaire3) September 10, 2015
'Crisis at Stormont' Members vote for free tea for themselves no wonder why the general public couldn't care if it collasped or not #unreal
— Michael Burns (@mburns1980) September 10, 2015
Stormont committee votes to reinstate free tea at their meetings, because nothing else is going on up there today http://t.co/oG1GK5GuuY
— Padraic Geoghegan (@padraic83) September 10, 2015
Could that cup of tea vote at the Stormont committee be a case of someone stirring it.....#couldn'tmakeitup
— Gareth Gordon (@BBCGarethG) September 10, 2015In case you were wondering, all quiet @niassembly for now #bored #groundhogday @BTNIPPA @irish_news pic.twitter.com/9p2rT26LMb
— mal mccann (@MalMccann) September 10, 2015
