Stormont was in limbo for most of 2022 but the past 12 months have by no means been free from political drama.
And 2023 looks set to be another year full of twists and turns for politics in Northern Ireland.
Parties are already gearing up for council elections in May, while there is still the potential of another snap Assembly election if power-sharing is not restored.
And will US president Joe Biden be paying a visit to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement?
Here is a rundown of some of the key political goings on to look out for during 2023:
Energy support payment
With the cost-of-living crisis remaining at the forefront of UK politics, focus in Northern Ireland has remained on a delayed £600 support payment to help with rising energy bills.
There has been continued uncertainty over the initiative due to Northern Ireland's separate energy market and the collapse of Stormont power-sharing.
Take a look at our Q&A guide to all we know so far about the stalled support scheme and how it will operate.
While the roll-out is due to begin in January, the complexities mean not necessarily everyone will receive their £600 by the end of next month.
Further problems and delays could heap pressure on the DUP over its decision to pull down Stormont in protest against Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
But Sir Jeffrey Donaldson's party has argued a scheme of this nature would always have needed central government involvement.
A deal on the Protocol?
There has been a thawing in recent months of relations between London, Dublin and Brussels, giving hope for a resolution to disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The European Union recently agreed to extend a grace period for animal medicines, while the UK government's Protocol Bill aimed at unilaterally overriding the Irish Sea trade deal appears to have been stalled.
However, talks between the UK and EU have remained at a technical level, suggesting a wider political agreement could still remain some way off unless negotiations rapidly intensify.
Any deal will likely involve compromise, leaving DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson with a big decision to make: Will he drop his party's boycott of Stormont or continue to block power-sharing in protest?
In his Christmas message to party members, Sir Jeffrey reiterated his long-term commitment to devolution but insisted the protocol must be "properly dealt with".
Council elections - and maybe more
Northern Ireland parties are already making preparations for council elections in May, with candidates being selected and some even co-opted to replace retiring councillors ahead of polling day.
The date for the election is being pushed back by two weeks to avoid the counting of votes clashing with the coronation of King Charles III.
There is also the possibility of another Stormont Assembly election less than a year after the last one if devolved government remains in limbo.
If a new Executive is not formed by January 19, the UK government assumes a legal responsibility to call a fresh Assembly election by April 13.
But after the Secretary of State backtracked on calling a snap election before Christmas, there would be no surprise if an early poll was once again averted with fresh Westminster legislation.
Good Friday Agreement 25th anniversary
Events will be held in Northern Ireland to mark 25 years since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement on April 10, 1998.
With initiatives including an educational package for schools, the UK government has begun work to commemorate the historic peace deal designed to end the Troubles.
US president Joe Biden could be timing a visit to the UK and Ireland to coincide with marking the anniversary of the agreement that helped end Northern Ireland's decades of violence.
But there are reports the idea may be scrapped if Stormont's devolved institutions have not been restored by then.
A visit could hinge on whether the UK and EU manage to strike a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol which persuades the DUP to return to power-sharing.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said it would be a "real shame" if Stormont is not functioning by the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
But given that Stormont was down during the agreement's 20th birthday after the RHI scandal, there is no guarantee the 25th anniversary will be any different.
Troubles legacy bill
The UK government is pressing ahead with contentious legislation dealing with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The bill offers immunity from prosecution for perpetrators of Troubles-related crimes who agree to provide information to a new truth recovery body, and will also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict.
Victims' groups, most political parties and the Irish government have strongly opposed the legislation, which is continuing to make its way through Parliament.
The bill was a unilateral move away from the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, in which the British and Irish governments proposed a model that involved a new independent unit to reinvestigate unsolved murders.
Amnesty International said the bill will "deprive victims and families of the justice they deserve while shielding the perpetrators".
But the Northern Ireland Office argued the bill will "deliver better outcomes for those most impacted by the Troubles while helping society to look forward".
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