Proposed height restrictions for trucks would be detrimental to the State's export industry, according the Irish Exporters Association (IEA).

The IEA argues height restriction would force Irish exporters out of many markets, in particular the British food sector.

Iarnród Éireann is believed to be the main lobbyist in favour of capping the height of trucks. It is thought that the State's national rail service provider has complained of a 20 per cent increase in the number of bridges hit over the past year, and has said that restricting truck heights to 4.25m would reduce such incidents by up to 50 per cent.

John Whelan, chief executive of the IEA, argues that such a move would result in a 50 per cent increase in the number of trucks on the road, and would make Irish exporters uncompetitive in the UK market where there is currently no truck height restriction.

Mr Whelan made several recommendations, which he said would not impact negatively on the competitiveness of Irish exporters, to Minister of State for the Environment Pat "The Cope" Gallagher when the latter met an IEA delegation this week.

One was the introduction of height bars before all bridges to prevent access to trucks above the permitted height. Mr Whelan said that height bars, which have already been put in place at "danger spots" such as the East Link bridge, have been "almost 100 per cent" effective.

Mr Whelan said yesterday that Mr Gallagher seemed to "fully understand" the IEA's viewpoint, and was "anxious to get a balanced solution". He expects the Minister to issue a recommendation by autumn of this year.