By Mark Devenport BBC Northern Ireland political editor

Tired of talks? Well the public in Northern Ireland certainly seemed to be when the pro-Agreement parties got around a table again last Thursday.

Most people stopped on the streets by reporters either didn't know any discussions were happening or didn't appear to care.

With another meeting due in the coming week, it seems like deja vu all over again.

However, I can report that from the press's point of view at least, substantial progress was made.

Hacks in comfort

These talks are taking place amidst the marbled splendour of Parliament Buildings where the assembled hacks can keep warm and dry.

The Fourth Estate hope the era of standing around in a wet and windy car park can now be consigned to the dustbin of history.

The choice of venue also led to the novelty of anti-Agreement politicians strolling around the corridors whilst the talks were underway - as assembly members they are entitled to access.

The Northern Ireland Unionist Cedric Wilson got closest to the delegates as he helped a group representing terrorist victims put their point across in the Great Hall.

Ian Paisley has issued no Sinn fein talks warning to DUP members

Whilst the discussions continued on the first floor, Ian Paisley held court on the third floor, predicting their imminent failure.

More talks are scheduled for next week, both at Stormont and at the reconvened Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in Dublin.

Last time the Forum met its purpose was to welcome Sinn Fein into the ranks of democratic politics.

Now republicans are likely to get a different reception as other parties pressurise them to complete their transition.

In the Dail, Bertie Ahern gave a good summary of the British and Irish game plan - get talks going in the hope that the politicians will concentrate their minds around the end of February in the sure and certain knowledge that if there's no deal by March there will be no elections in May.

As things stand it's hard to see any one making the kind of major move needed to rebuild trust.

But we have been here before and as the Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen pointed out, you have to create an 'enabling context' before any quantum leaps forward can be made.

Paisley digs in

In the wings wait the Democratic Unionists with their talk of a new agreement.

With David Trimble pointedly absent for the start of the Stormont talks some officials might have again started wondering whether doing a deal with the likes of Peter Robinson after an election might prove a more attractive prospect than sorting things out with Mr Trimble beforehand.

However, Ian Paisley remains the DUP leader - and as he reminded the BBC's Inside Politics programme on the eve of his party conference, he has no plans to retire.

The Big Man insists that many politicians have done their best work in their 70s, and he's warning any party members tempted to engage in indirect contact or negotiation with Sinn Fein that they face expulsion.

A deal between the extremes of Northern Ireland politics would clearly be more durable than one which leaves any of the major parties out.

But is it a pipedream? That is something officials will continue to ponder as they consider the prospects for the Stormont round table discussions and when and whether to call elections.