Senator Darragh O'Brien raised a number of matters, including the Civil Registration (Marriage Equality) Bill which is on the Order Paper in my name. I hope to bring it forward as soon as I can. I am conscious that colleagues might have other matters they wish to raise during the Labour Party's Private Members' time. It will take its turn.

I can ask when the Minister for Justice and Equality will be available for a debate on policing. To be fair to the Minister, he is in the House on a very regular basis and one of the Ministers who most frequently initiate Bills in the Seanad. It is an important point to note. It is very good for the House and the quality of debate on Bills generally when they commence here. The Minister will be here regularly in the coming weeks to deal with other legislation.

Senator Paul Coghlan referred to developments in the context of the speech of the Chief Justice at Griffith College's law society. I join the Senator in commending the Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Susan Denham, for her measured approach and steady hand. I should declare my own interest as a barrister and member of the Law Library. Many of us with an interest in the area anticipated that the Chief Justice would have sensible comments to make on the matter. As she has said, the Attorney General is the appropriate channel for communication between the Judiciary and the Executive. That has remained the case in recent weeks when the matter has been in the media. The Chief Justice has established a working group for renewal which will support the channels of communication which have remained and continue to remain in place between the Judiciary and the Executive through the offices of the Attorney General. It is very clear that the working group will work very well in supporting the communication channels. We are all very conscious of the need to protect the separation of powers but also to ensure as a matter of practicality that there are working channels of communication. I am very glad that the issue has been dealt with clearly by the Chief Justice.

Senator Sean D. Barrett mentioned the welcome news of the university rankings in which Trinity College Dublin is ranked 48th in the world. I join the Senator in commending the ranking. I also join the Senator in expressing concern about reports of an increase in charges by AIB. Other Senators have sought a debate on banking, in which context the issue might be raised. The Senator also raised the matter of an amendment to the Order of Business to debate No. 14 on the Order Paper, his Financial Stability and Reform Bill. I am happy to accept the amendment in the normal way.

Senator Aideen Hayden referred to the publication of the personal insolvency guidelines which will be launched by the Minister for Finance this afternoon. There has been a great deal of debate on the guidelines, to which we all look forward to seeing. I am glad to see reports today which suggest there will be a degree of flexibility built into them. The Senator is right to say the guidelines will, at least, give borrowers in distress objective criteria by which they may deal with banks. It is very important that banks are held to account. The current case-by-case way in which borrowers are being dealt with raises issues about inconsistency and arbitrary decisions. It will be very helpful to have a clear set of guidelines in place. We hope they will be sensible and provide the required degree of flexibility. The Senator also sought a debate with the Minister on the role of the banks. She has sought such a debate before and I will renew my request to the Minister.

Senator Denis O'Donovan was the first to raise the issue of the fodder crisis. He very kindly referred to my Crookstown roots, which I am always delighted to recall. I grew up to the west of Cork city in the Crookstown-Macroom area where there is a strong farming community. I am aware of the serious fodder issue and the great distress of farm families who see livestock starving. It is an issue many colleagues have raised. Senators Fidelma Healy Eames, Rónán Mullen, Paschal Mooney, Michael Mullins, Michael Comiskey, Terry Leyden, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Brian Ó Domhnaill and Mary White also raised the issue. Senator Denis O'Donovan called for an amendment to the Order of Business. While I have sympathy for the proposal, I cannot accept it. I have put in a call, but I cannot get the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to attend the House today. As there has been such concern, I will read a statement from the Minister on what has been going on. The matter was also raised at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine which is writing to the Minister for an urgent response and will follow up the matter strenuously in the coming days. The statement reads:

Over the past number of days Minister Coveney and Department officials have spoken to members of the pillar banks and representatives of a number of co-ops, including Glanbia, Dairygold and Lakeland. The Minister spoke individually to representatives from the main banks operating in the sector - Ulster Bank, AIB and Bank of Ireland.

Ulster Bank:

Last autumn they made available a €15 million "weather fund" to farmers to be drawn down as short term loans in recognition of the bad weather last summer. Their preference is that farmers would take down lower interest short-term loans in preference to more expensive overdraft facilities. More recently they have released €10 million in response to the crisis in Northern Ireland; this fund however is also available for farmers in the Republic of Ireland.

AIB:

They have put a significant number of personnel in place to deal with the issues facing farmers on the ground and the increased demand for overdraft and short-term facilities. AIB are encouraging farmers to come forward to talk to them about their individual circumstances. They are insistent that farmers will get a positive response as they see this [as many colleagues described it] as a short term financing issue in a year when prices for milk and meat in particular will remain strong.

Bank of Ireland:

Like the other banks they are encouraging farmers to come and talk to them and they are anxious to make credit facilities available to the farming community. Some of the figures worth noting from the bank include:

Only 65% of existing overdraft facilities are being currently used across their portfolio of farming customers.

While there has been a 15% increase in requests for increased overdraft facilities by farmers this is much less than the increases requested by other small business sectors.

While there has been an increase in demand for short term loans it has not been dramatic.

All three banks were insistent that they view farming and farmers as customers to be facilitated in the current fodder crisis with regard to access to credit facilities in form of overdrafts and short term loans. [The Minister] will be meeting the banks in person next week and will continue the conversation with them.

Co-Ops:

With regard to the Co-Ops that were spoken to, a number of significant initiatives are apparent [many colleagues recognise that this is not just an issue that concerns banks but is also a matter for farming solidarity, the IFA, co-ops and merchants to intervene].

Over €25 million in additional credit facilities have been made available to farmers.

In the specific case of Dairygold who are responding to these exceptional circumstances they are making interest free credit available for purchases of ruminant feed that are taking place in March and April. They are also importing a large volume of hay from the UK and making it available at cost to farmers in need.

The Minister and the Department have been reassured by the conversations with the Co-Ops that they are aware of and are continuing to support their members in recognition of the significant pressure that farmers are under. The Minister and the Department will continue to monitor the situation closely on a daily basis and will respond appropriately as the situation develops.

I hope the information provides some assistance and comfort for colleagues, but I am aware the issue is distressing for many farm families.

It is not much good in the west.

It is something the Minister is very much aware of and responding to on a daily basis. I am also conscious that he will be in the House to deal with the Animal Health and Welfare Bill. Colleagues can raise these concerns at that point.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames also referred to the fodder crisis. I have set out a detailed response to her concerns.

Senator Rónán Mullen raised the issue of the housing crisis and asked for the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, to come to the House. The Minister of State will attend the House on 15 May to discuss the topic of wind energy. Perhaps we might expand the debate.

Senator John Kelly referred to a wind farm moratorium. The Minister of State will be in the House on 15 May to discuss the matter.

Senator David Cullinane referred to the potential closure of a Diageo manufacturing plant in Waterford. It is a sensitive issue and we all join the Senator in hoping the efforts to ensure jobs are not lost will be successful. It is perhaps early to seek a debate in the House on the matter, given the current nature of the talks. We all hope the jobs will be kept. Enterprise Ireland will work on the issue.

Senator Susan O'Keeffe raised the matter of an independent inquiry into the death of Savita Halappanavar. Those listening to reports on the inquest are very concerned to hear the evidence emerging, particularly the evidence yesterday of Dr. Peter Boylan, the former master of the National Maternity Hospital. He gave expert evidence that suggested the real problem was with the law and the lack of legal clarity. It shows us that the X case legislation may not go far enough and that the problem lies with the wording of the eighth amendment and the serious difficulty-----

With respect to all sides, we are not having a debate.

The Deputy Leader to continue, without interruption.

On a point of order, it is not appropriate to have a debate when the Deputy Leader is introducing her view on something and when no one else can respond. There are ways of having a proper debate in a respectful way-----

I am responding to-----

The Deputy Leader is responding to the questions raised by the House. Please allow her to proceed without interruption.

I think the Deputy Leader is abusing her position to some degree.

I am responding to-----

Senator Ivana Bacik is referring to a pro-abortion doctor. He sent his sister-in-law here during the health committee hearings. The man's opinion on the issue is on the record.

The Deputy Leader is responding to questions.

She is being very selective.

It is a sensitive issue and it is not appropriate for the Deputy Leader to use the response to a request for a debate to expand on her own point of view.

The Senator should resume his seat.

The Deputy Leader is entitled to respond.

The Deputy Leader to continue, without interruption.

As Deputy Leader of the House, I ask for respect. I am responding to an issue raised by a colleague.

Senator Ivana Bacik is giving her own opinion, which is pro-abortion.

Can we hear the Deputy Leader without interruption?

I ask Senator Jim Walsh to withdraw that deeply offensive remark. It is a disgrace. The Senator is a disgrace. I ask for the remark to be withdrawn. Will the Cathaoirleach ask him to withdraw it?

I did not hear the remark.

I did. He said the Deputy Leader of the House was pro-abortion. It was very clear and I ask him to withdraw it.

I call the Deputy Leader; please allow her to proceed without interruption.

Will the Cathaoirleach ask the Senator to withdraw it?

I did not hear what he said.

If I said it, I would not withdraw it because it would be true.

Did the Cathaoirleach hear that? Was it clear enough?

We are allowed to speak the truth in this House.

I ask the Cathaoirleach to assert some respect for the role of the Deputy Leader of the House.

On a point of order, as the inquest is under way, Senator Ivana Bacik should not prejudice the outcome of the inquest.

That is not a point of order. The Deputy Leader is responding to questions raised in the House.

I am sorry, this is a serious matter. She is prejudicing the outcome of an inquest in Galway.

The record of the House will show the points raised this morning.

It will show very serious statements. It should be brought to the attention of the coroner.

The Senator raised issues this morning and the Deputy Leader is trying to respond to the questions raised by Members. We should have some respect.

I did not refer to an inquest under way in Galway.

Can the House have respect for the Deputy Leader who is responding to the questions raised?

The coroner should be informed of her statements.

The record of the House will show that the longest response I have given and will give is the response on the agriculture issue, the fodder crisis in farming, which was raised by the majority of Members who spoke. I gave a full response directly from the Minister. That is the way in which I am seeking to respond to every colleague in the House in a courteous way to deal fully with the issues raised and respond in an appropriate way. As a lawyer, I take strong objection to the suggestion that I am in some way overstepping the line. I take that very seriously.

The Senator is.

Senator Ivana Bacik is.

I will be raising the issue with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I will also be raising issues about personal attacks because there have been many from the other side of the House----

Were they on the Senator?

Not just on me. Political attacks are one thing, but to make attacks on people is another.

We can say whatever we like about people.

Senator Ivana Bacik selected one piece of evidence-----

We will now hear from the Deputy Leader as she finishes up.