President Higgins says world leaders are 'gambling with people's lives' amid food crisis

'Year after year, the United Nations avoids dealing with the structural issues that are standing behind the food crisis,' said President Higgins

Ploughing Managing Director Anna May McHugh with President Michael D Higgins at the National Ploughing Championships, Ratheniska, Co Laois. Picture: Dan Linehan

President Michael D Higgins has launched an attack on world leaders and the United Nations (UN) claiming they have allowed a food speculation system which is "gambling on people's lives".

President Higgins has said that "year after year" the UN has avoided dealing with the root problems of the global food crisis and has urged Taoiseach Micheál Martin to bring this message to the Assembly meeting in New York later this week.