Mobile phone firms to explain charges

The mobile phone firms Vodafone, O2 and Meteor have been invited before the Oireachtas communications committee to explain why their charges are higher than those in any other country in the European Union.

Fianna Fáil TD Noel O'Flynn, the chairman of the committee, said Irish mobile phone users were paying an average of €565 per year in mobile charges, €146 more than people in Britain.

He said he expected Irish mobile phone companies to reduce their charges.