Green Minister Trevor Sargent has taken his eye off the ball on the issue of global food shortages, according to Labour spokesperson on Agriculture & Food Seán Sherlock TD.

Deputy Sherlock said: "The Minister has failed to show leadership on the issue and should address the problem with the same energy as he gives his pet Green Party projects.

"We have heard little or nothing from Minister Sargent on the issue, while he hasn't stopped talking about organic food production. I agree there is merit and a market for organic food production but it must complement that of conventional food staples.

"I think the minister has ‘let the sliotar slip' on the issue of conventional food production at time when his primary focus should be in ensuring their affordability and the primacy of agriculture.

"With the high price of oil the impact on the cost of food will be long term and the government must focus its attention on ensuring that local and Irish food production can continue to have a place in the market.

"I am now calling on the Minister Sargent to initiate a food summit to plan for the future.

"We have to ensure there is staple food supply at affordable prices for consumers while looking to actively encourage import substitution. This would be a truly pro-environment measure because it would enable people to reducing their carbon footprint and would create markets for the organic movement."