Inspections of animal-based food produce arriving at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended (Brian Lawless/PA)
Mr Lyons took over the role last week as Mr Poots took leave for medical treatment following a cancer diagnosis.
Former junior minister Mr O’Dowd maintained Mr Poots’ position over the staff.
He said: “The information given to this assembly and to Mid and East Antrim Council was based on half-truths, misinformation and erroneous information.”
The Sinn Fein assembly member added: “Workers were used as pawns in a very, very cruel game.”
They were withdrawn after threatening graffiti appeared last month.
Mr O’Dowd suggested the danger was “non-existent”.
Arlene Foster s DUP is calling for the UK Government to move customs checks from the Irish sea onto the island of Ireland A PETITION calling on the UK Government to trigger article 16 of the Brexit agreement’s Northern Ireland protocol and introduce customs checks on the island of Ireland has reached 100,000 signatures. The DUP has vowed to scrap the NI Protocol, which effectively creates a hard border down the Irish sea but allows free trade between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Article 16, if triggered, would move this customs border onto the island of Ireland. On January 29, the European Commission announced plans to temporarily place export controls on the free movement of goods in respect of Covid vaccines.