This is the time of year where our media outlets conduct reviews of the months that have just passed in politics, treating us to another round of some of the more negative events that took place through 2012.

We had trouble in Northern Ireland, a sluggish economy and a debate about abortion rights. It was disheartening, when the 1982 state papers were released recently, that Ireland is still debating many of the same issues. If you were not disenchanted about the direction of the country before, the year-end reviews would most certainly have converted you.