Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke about the inability of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, to attend the House. The Minister tendered his apology. I hope he will come here on Thursday next and that he will discuss the fodder crisis then, but I do not have confirmation of this. If we do amend the Order of Business, I am willing to accept that we can discuss the issue today without a Minister, if that will suffice. It would be better to have the Minister here next Thursday, but I am willing to co-operate with the House on the matter. I will amend the Order of Business if Senators want to hold the debate today, but there will be no Minister here. I am amenable to the wishes of the House. It does not often happen that Ministers cry off at short notice, especially in respect of legislation, but it has happened and the Minister apologises.
I take on board Senator Darragh O'Brien's comments on the protection of life during pregnancy Bill. It will go to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children and be brought back to both Houses after the hearings. I assured the House yesterday that there would be full and ample time afforded to any Member who wished to speak on the Bill on all Stages. We will provide ample time and anybody who wishes to speak will be afforded the time to do so. The majority of Members believe that is the time when we should discuss the Bill and that we should leave the heads of the Bill to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children to discuss. Senator Rónán Mullen disagrees and I understand his feelings on the matter, but that is what we intend doing on the Bill.
Senator Darragh O'Brien also raised the question of the Betting (Amendment) Bill and online betting. I support his sentiments and will endeavour to find out when the Bill will be brought to the House. I understand the Department of Finance is framing it. There had been a link between the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Justice, Equality and Defence, and Finance. All three were involved in it. I hope the Bill will be brought to the House in the autumn session, if not before.
Senator Ivana Bacik welcomed the 1,600 jobs for Glanbia, as did Senator Denis Landy and other Members. It is a significant boost to rural communities, especially in the south east. The Senators also welcomed the 100 jobs announced in the ICT sector today in Dublin. All of these announcements are to be welcomed. They show that the Action Plan for Jobs is working and bearing fruit.
Senator David Norris and several other Members commented on the protection of life during pregnancy Bill. We should reserve our comments until we come to discuss the Bill. I do not intend to comment on what Members have said about it.
Senator Tony Mulcahy also welcomed the Glanbia jobs announcement and asked that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, be invited to the House to give an overview of the project.
Senator Denis O'Donovan raised the issue of the fodder crisis. Yesterday I announced that a helpline had been set up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the number of which is 1850 211 990. As stated by the Department, no animal should die and it will pay for fodder to be brought to those in crisis. Senator Michael Comiskey outlined the measures put in place by the co-ops, the banks, the IFA and all others involved. It is up to the Opposition to decide whether it wishes to have that debate today without a Minister present or next Thursday with the Minister.
Senator Aideen Hayden raised the issue of split mortgages and insolvency procedures. I am sure we will have a further debate on that issue. While the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, will be in the House soon to deal with housing legislation, I am not sure if the Senator's concerns can be addressed in that context. I will try to arrange a debate on the matter.
Senators David Cullinane and Ned O'Sullivan asked that particular persons be invited to address the House as a commemoration of the 1913 Lock-out. That matter is on the agenda for the next meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. The Senators also called for a further debate on Harvest 2020.
Senator Cáit Keane spoke about the promotions in particular ranks in An Garda Síochána announced yesterday by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, and called, like Senator Ned O'Sullivan, for Garda pay to be addressed by an independent commission.
Senator Terry Leyden seconded the proposed amendment to the Order of Business seeking a debate on the fodder crisis, which issue he also raised yesterday.
Senator Denis Landy and several others referred to the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, that the sale of harvesting rights would probably not proceed at this time. The Senator also welcomed the briefing on the situation of the Waterford Crystal workers in the AV room at 2 p.m. today and the jobs announced by Glanbia.
Senators Labhrás Ó Murchú, Paul Coghlan and Rónán Mullen asked about the protection of life during pregnancy Bill 2013. We will deal with the matters raised by the Senators when the Bill is brought before the House.
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh asked about the Leader programme. I do not agree with him that the programme is in disarray. I understand significant funding was announced in some areas only last week. I am sure the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Deputy Phil Hogan, would be willing to come to the House to update Senators on the matter.
Senator Mary White raised the issue of the Good Friday Agreement. I can assure her that there is no disengagement whatsoever in this regard on behalf of the Government. On the Narrow Water Bridge project, an issue which has also been raised in the House on many occasions by Senators D'Arcy and Terry Brennan, I am confident that the finance to allow the project to proceed will be made available.