Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams spoke to each other yesterday. Mr Adams delivered a tutorial in Irish history to the DUP leader and all other Assembly members while Dr Paisley briefed the Sinn Féin president on the more abstruse points of Presbyterian theology, writes Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor
So, was it the great policing issue that triggered this parliamentary first? Of course not, although at the end of his speech Dr Paisley made a direct plea to Mr Adams to take the initiative on policing. In fact, it was the ghosts of Henry Joy McCracken and his sister, Mary Ann, Henry Munro, Samuel Neilson, the Rev James Porter and others, all United Irishmen - apart from Mary Ann - and all Presbyterians, according to Mr Adams - that prompted the interaction.
Dr Paisley said he had listened to a "very interesting extract from republican propaganda history" but he wanted to "inform the gentleman who has spoken" he was unaware of the difference between Presbyterians and Unitarians and that the Presbyterian synod around that historic period was totally opposed to the United Irish rebellion.
But did Dr Paisley accept that all the names he mentioned were Presbyterian, Mr Adams asked. The Free Presbyterian moderator suggested the "honourable member" should read Presbyterian theology or, better still, consult the Bible.
"I think that to be told that the Presbyterians of Northern Ireland were all lined up to undermine the proper democratic government and to break the British link is, of course, nonsense, absolute nonsense, and a perversion of history."
So, was there a meeting of minds? Again, of course not, but across the Assembly chamber there was direct dialogue between these ultra-republican and unionist opponents. There was eye contact, reasonable body language, a smile, a sense that these two politicians would relish the opportunity for proper, direct, cut-and-thrust parliamentary exchanges, if only the Twelve Apostles or Dirty Dozen - the titles of the 12 DUP members who last Friday week effectively challenged Dr Paisley's strategy and leadership - would allow them get on with it.
Transitional Assembly speaker Eileen Bell allowed speakers leeway: they could speak for as long as they liked - within reason, of course - on the Ulster Unionist motion deploring Peter Hain as an interfering Secretary of State.
And they did - speak at length, that is - but only occasionally to the motion. Sinn Féin complained about 800 years of British perfidy, mentioning along the way the aforesaid United Irishmen, the Famine, James Connolly executed strapped to a chair, 1916, 1918, 1921, and so on.
All of which prompted DUP MLA Peter Weir, during the Sinn Féin president's peroration, to urge Ms Bell to reconsider her ruling; after all, Mr Adams was many minutes into his speech and he "had only reached 1798". It was that sort of day.