Shane Ross (Independent)

I should begin by responding to Senator Mansergh's comments. While I agree with much of what he said, I wish to put on the record that I found it very unconvincing when he said that the Minister and the Government decided to take the stance they did on the issue of the Stability and Growth Pact because it was a pragmatic decision. I am always suspicious of people who talk about pragmatic decisions. When I do it myself, I feel I do so without conviction. When one says one is being pragmatic, one is effectively saying one is throwing all one's principles to the wind for reasons which are purely and utterly practical, opportunist and not admirable or long term.