As yesterday dawned, the Secretary of State issued a missive via twitter that summed up that her mood about the inter-party talks that was hardly hopeful: “We’ve reached a critical stage of these talks. There’s been some positive work by all the parties but the chances of clinching a final deal look slim. Significant differences of view remain between the parties.” Her statement came on the back of a previous one last week in which she said there are “still some big differences of view between them on very significant issues”.

Well, the old cliche a week is a long time in politics could never be truer. Not much of a glimmer of optimism from Ms. Villiers by yesterday after yoghurt references from the podium of a party conference and the use of ‘that’ word in Enniskillen on Monday night.

At the weekend, East Londonderry DUP MP Gregory Campbell referred to a jibe he had made at the Assembly about the Irish language when he had said: “Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer”, an apparent reference to an Irish phrase. It had caused an outcry.

On Saturday at the DUP party conference, he said it was always good to start the day with a healthy breakfast, produced a tub of yoghurt and said: “So I got some yoghurt today.

He added: “And I’m looking forward to lunch, because they tell me there’s some curry there.” Mr Campbell also said the DUP would treat Sinn Fein’s wish list as no more than toilet paper. Cue political outcry.

His leader described his words as “humour”.

On Monday, a completely unscripted speech by Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein and Louth TD, during a community engagement meeting at the Enniskillen Hotel, too caused a political storm. His comments came close to the end of a question and answer session at which a journalist for this newspaper was attending. When asked about a line in the sand where there is no point trying with the DUP, Mr Adams addressed a number of issues including traditions of rural Ireland, empowering people and the problems of emigration.

Then he said: “But what’s the point? The point is to actually break these b***ards - that’s the point. And what’s going to break them is equality. That’s what’s going to break them - equality. Who could be afraid of equality? Who could be afraid of treating somebody the way you want to be treated. That’s what we need to keep the focus on - that’s the trojan horse of the entire republican strategy – is to reach out to people on the basis of equality.” Within hours of the journalist tweeting the quote and reporting on it on the Impartial Reporter website, the recriminations were coming in thick and fast from the political parties on Monday night.

Mr. Adams has subsequently clarified his position, saying he was referring to “bigots, racists and homophobes”. On Tuesday he apologised for saying the “b word”, saying it was “inappropriate”.

What is clear is that in this war of words there are no winners. The majority of the electorate don’t want this. The war of words is reaching a new low.

What has been lost, and so obviously is not apparent, is any modicum of respect. And when the stories are beamed around the world it is shameful. Basic respect for an opponent, no matter what his or her position, are the building blocks for any process. It’s time for our politicians to be aware of that.