After weeks of political stalemate, recent days have seen a small flurry of activity aimed at keeping up the pressure for an autumn election.
August is traditionally a quiet period politically as party leaders head off on holiday.
However, it is vital that every effort is made to maintain some sort of momentum so that progress can be achieved in the early autumn.
It must be said that there is little sense of a breakthrough on the cards.
The best that most people can hope for is that some work is going on behind the scenes to try to overcome the current difficulties.
Certainly, reports that Tony Blair's chief of staff has met the Sinn Féin leadership is a positive sign that political activity has not ground to a halt.
But it is clear that a considerable amount of work is required if an election is to take place in the near future.
The case for an autumn poll is compelling.
For the first time in many years, the marching season – including the annual nightmare of Drumcree – has passed off relatively peacefully.
Interfaces which are well used to serious sectarian violence have been much quieter than anyone expected.
All those who have worked to keep the peace during the past few weeks must be congratulated and everyone will hope their efforts will herald tension-free summers in the future.
There is no doubt that the reduction in violence provides a positive backdrop for political progress.
There are those who argue that there is little point holding an election while there is no prospect of a restoration of the executive.
However, it is essential that political representatives have a mandate from the electorate to support their positions.
The British government must also make it clear that political movement cannot be stymied by internal difficulties within the Ulster Unionist Party.
However, the most powerful argument of all for an autumn election is that politics must be seen to work in Northern Ireland.
It is crucial that the Irish government and all parties interested in democracy put pressure on Tony Blair to set a poll date.
We have come too far to see hard won political progress drift into a damaging and dispiriting limbo.
