be beside the point

To be tangential or insignificant. I do love the apartment, but that's beside the point because I don't have enough money for a security deposit right now. Your weekend plans are beside the point—let's get back to the topic at hand. A: "Hey, we're talking about how you got caught sneaking in last night—my role in any of that is beside the point!" B: "I'm not so sure it is! Mom and Dad, what do you think?"