THE EU Livestock Exporters' Association of Ireland has accused the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, of being anti live exports and of not helping them to get animals out of the State.
A statement from the group said Mr Yates had confirmed to a farmers' meeting in Wexford earlier this week that Department policy on live exports has been influenced by a desire to keep the maximum number of livestock on the home markets to avail of subsidies.
"Our worst fears have been realised in that live exports have not been facilitated as part of a deliberate but unofficial policy which is anti the Maastricht Treaty, anti European and most importantly, anti farmer," said the association chairman, Mr John Fluery.
He said the organisation had met the Minister of State for Energy, Mr Emmet Stagg, on the issue and would try and meet the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, to make him aware of the statements.
But last night a spokesman for Mr Yates said both he and the Department had continued to be supportive of the live export trade which could have been ended two years ago had it not been for Ministerial and Departmental pressures.
He said talks would continue with the ferry companies to ensure continuity of trade.
The IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, also rejected what he called "deliberately misleading" statements by some livestock exporters who "were bad mouthing the efforts being made by IFA to keep routes open".
He said the restrictions being imposed by the Pandoro line and the inaction of the Government were causing livestock markets in Europe to be choked off and there was the potential to export up to 100,000 head of livestock.