Mr. Eddie Burgess:

It is just an observation on where we stand in the European league. I do not know what position we are in, but we are in the top or in the better water quality position, especially our groundwater bodies. More than 98% of our groundwater bodies are good status and meet the requirement. That would be significantly higher than most other European countries. The derogation that has just been approved for the nitrates directive for agriculture allowing farmers to exceed the 170 limit would not be approved if we were not in that position. There are only four EU members states that have a derogation and we are one of them. On the trend that is being reported on, if we are good it does not mean we sit our laurels. If there is a trend moving in the wrong direction for particular aspects of water quality that needs to be reversed. It needs to be stopped.