Mr. Brian MacDonald:

That is actually true. Following the report of the expert panel, there was a tendency to present those on group water schemes as victims. We do not see ourselves as victims. We have worked under various Ministers from various parties, and the Department has consistently been a huge boon to the scheme. That was not being reflected in the commentary immediately after the report of the expert panel. All sides of the House recognise that the schemes are doing a job.

The subsidy associated with the group water scheme is, of course, predicated on the existence of free water, as they call it, on the public side. We do not take issue with that. We do not take issue with the recommendation that it be financed through the public Exchequer. Clearly, many schemes could not function without subsidisation at present. It is important to us but we have to come back to what Mr. Brady mentioned in respect of our relationship with the Department. We have total confidence because, over the years, a partnership arrangement developed in which the concerns of the group water scheme sector have been reflected. We see what is happening on the public sector being reflected. In the review of subsidisation in 2013, a set of principles was agreed. We would certainly be up to submitting them. Among them is the principle that equity will always be maintained for the group water schemes sector. Therefore, we are very confident that the Houses will reflect that.