I reiterate my call for an urgent debate on the farming crisis. While I acknowledge that the Deputy Leader is a very capable lady and a Trinity graduate, I must not allow her to forget her roots in Baile na Gallda, Crookstown, in west Cork, where she comes from farming stock. As I said yesterday, many farmers are disillusioned and there is much despair and depression. I am not here today to point the finger of blame at the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, or the troika or the banks because the Minister is not to blame for the weather. However, because the situation is so serious it demands an urgent response. A precedent was set by the previous Government in 2009 when money was provided on a short-term basis for those in difficulties during the fodder crisis. Farmers are currently being billed for the property tax. They look out their windows and in some instances the cattle and sheep are staggering around the fields with starvation. The supply of credit from the banks is very tight and many farmers are unable to get extra allowances from the providers of foodstuffs such as bags of nuts and other animal feed. It is a very serious issue. I am pleading from my heart rather than making a political point.

I will propose an amendment to the Order of Business that this matter be debated. The Leader said yesterday that the Minister might come to the House in two or three weeks time. However, in two or three weeks time it will be too late for many farmers. The situation is very serious. Their livestock are in a desperate state because they are starving in many instances. I pity the farmers. It has been a terrible winter and March has been the worst on record. Last year was so inclement and many farmers did not have the necessary fodder provisions to tide over the winter. I appeal for an urgent debate with a heavy heart. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that we have a debate this evening and that the Minister or some other Minister with a knowledge of farming come to the House.

I support Senator O'Donovan. I am very familiar with the hardship being suffered by farmers.

Is Senator Fidelma Healy Eames seconding the amendment?

I am not seconding the amendment but I am supporting his concern-----

The Senator is half-supporting it.

I would appreciate if I could speak. There is a desperate fodder crisis. We are looking for a few weeks' support until the grass grows. It has been a very dry and bitterly cold period. Farmers have been unable to get their cattle out and nothing is growing. To be fair, the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, addressed us on this matter last evening. He spoke to all of the banks and the co-operatives yesterday. Farmers have been relying on the co-operatives to provide them with lines of credit. The banks have assured the Minister that credit is currently available to the farmers. It is encouraging to know that Ulster Bank stated it has set money aside. The bank is surprised that more farmers are not availing of this funding. However, I am not surprised, given the overall concern about the banks. Farmers must be supported at this crucial time. We are relying on this industry to pull us out of this mess of the recession. Farmers generate money in their local economy and they must be supported.

This House is unanimous in calling for help for farmers and for the banks to be sympathetic to them, given that they have made that commitment to the Minister.