No golden age in Irish politics

Opinion pieces about reforming or abolishing the Seanad imply that the politicians of today are not of the calibre of those of the past, and that the Seanad can nurture a new generation of better politicians.

It’s fair to argue about the Seanad’s usefulness, and valid to be contemptuous of the Taoiseach’s record in the decades since he was first elected — his only achievement seems to have been claiming expenses and ensuring the grass got cut on the bye roads around Castlebar.

But when was this golden age of parliamentary giants?