Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan was accused of putting "a self-congratulatory spin" on her announcement that organic production in Ireland here had increased by 15 per cent last year.
The accusation came from Labour Party Agriculture spokeswoman Dr Mary Upton who said there had been an "appalling lack of development of the Irish organic sector".
"Any increase in organic production in Ireland is welcome. But any such increase is from a shockingly low base.
"Between 1996 and 2003 the number of organic farms in Ireland increased by 30 per cent," she said.
According to Dr Upton some of the comparable figures for our European neighbours are: Belgium + 200 per cent, The Czech Republic - 400 per cent, Denmark + 300 per cent, Germany + 120 per cent, Estonia - 700 per cent, Greece + 800 per cent; Spain + 700 per cent, France + 300 per cent and Italy + 110 per cent.
Figures revealed in the third report of the National Steering Group for the organic sector for last year showed there are now 35,266 hectares of Irish land converted to organic production.
Statistics also indicated that the number of operators increased from 1,004 to 1,090.
"This Government has consistently refused to implement all the main recommendations of the Organic Development Committee," Dr Upton said.
"For instance, export markets have not been developed. We have not moved any closer to having a national organic label, like we do for conventionally produced food in Kerrygold," she added.
Ms Coughlan had said she was encouraged by the 15 per cent increase in organic production, even if from a small base.