Isn’t it a sad reflection on our political system that I was able to name examples of positive Irish success stories from the last 20 years in the arts, business and sport but that I don’t feel I could name you a positive role model from Dáil Éireann in that period. Indeed, if I was to name-check many of the people who have held senior positions in politics over the last 20 years it would be more likely to provoke embarrassment than inspiration.