It's Stormont's very own Kramer v. Kramer, although they're not a couple and they're arguing about the fate of the whole world, not just their kids.
In the Orange Corner, there's Sammy, a climate change sceptic who recalls writing essays about global cooling when he was at school.
In the Green Corner, there's Brian, an environmental campaigner keen to see the NI Civil Service set up its own carbon trading scheme.
If we are judging on public speaking ability, there's no question. Sammy wins every time.
But who is the better climatologist? Let's return to this blog in about fifty years time for a definitive judgement.
I am getting increasingly worried about mentioning the DUP's Jim Shannon in this blog. Previously we have noted his penchant for shooting and countryside sports. Now he is asking the Culture Minister Edwin Poots about funding for karate and taekwondo. Here we have an MLA who I fear may be able to kill you with his bare hands....
Discretion being the better part of valour, the blog will restrict itself in the future to paying tribute to his Ulster Scots rhetorical skills.
UPDATE: No sooner had I written that sentence than I came upon another Jim Shannon question I simply can't resist. He wants to know what action the Environment Minister Arlene Foster intends to take over the display of Christmas lights in vehicle windows. Mrs Foster says there are already regulations covering dazzling lights and she has no plans to introduce legislation on this score as "there is no indication from data provided by the PSNI that the use of Christmas lights on the windows of vehicles is a key factor in road traffic collisions."
And if you haven't got any lights, remember that there are only 81 shopping days until Christmas....
The Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr gave evidence to Jeffrey Donaldson's Assembly and Executive Review Committee this morning. He expressed surprise at media reports that he was due to face a grilling, adding that he was probably a rare person in the Senate Chamber in that he had given evidence previously from the witness box.
Committee member Raymond McCartney, a former leader of the IRA prisoners in the Maze, begged to differ, informing the LCJ that he also had experience of the witness box. Jailed for two murders in the 70s, the Foyle MLA had the convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal earlier this year.
Sir Brian used his appearance to suggest a more "hands off" model for the Courts Service than suggested so far by the NIO. The NIO envisages the Courts Service as an executive agency accountable to a future devolved Justice Minister. Instead Sir Brian proposes a "non-ministerial department" headed by a Board which he or his successors would chair, which would include a representative from the Justice Ministry. His board would submit a strategic plan to the Minister and provide the department with annual reports. The LCJ argued this model would mirror the one in the Republic of Ireland and one planned for Scotland. It would also require fresh legislation.
When invited by the DUP's George Robinson to comment on the appropriate timing of the transfer of justice powers, Sir Brian declined to stray into such overtly political waters. However, by suggesting a scheme which would require fresh legislation he may have unintentionally supplied ammunition to those in the DUP inclined to argue that this matter is so complicated that it cannot possibly be resolved by the NIO's target date of May 2008.
I'm 
