The 54-year-old, who lives in Maryland, has written an open letter as the state's general assembly debates a bill which would prevent the use of live elephants for entertainment in the US state.

BBC: Goldie's circus elephant ban call

Carwyn Jones said that while he very rarely complained about what was said during robust debates in the Assembly, he felt Mr Davies' comments had "crossed a boundary".

BBC: First minister's questions

You're very fond of bemoaning in your comments that real life rarely intrudes too closely on debates in the Assembly over sub clauses in legislation and arguments over policy points.

BBC: Real life and law making collide

Despite the heated debates, the state assembly decided to press ahead with the idea last year and passed a bill allowing voluntary cremations for the first time and making it legal for unclaimed bodies in mortuaries to be cremated.

BBC: Letter from Africa: Rites of the dead

The Sinn Fein deputy speaker, Francie Molloy, has gone so far as to indicate that he will not chair debates on matters over which he believes the assembly has no power.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Preparations for 'virtual assembly'

They thought the 60-member assembly was too small, although the assembly's size meant members were virtually guaranteed to be called during debates.

BBC: Senedd

The States Assembly and Constitution Committee (SACC) said it hoped to overcome restrictions on broadcasting debates to launch the service.

BBC: Guernsey States streaming a step closer