Greens say eircom takeover will lead to higher bills

The Green Party has criticised the planned takeover of eircom by Australian investment firm Babcock and Brown, claiming it will lead to higher telephone bills for customers.

Party spokesman Eamonn Ryan said Babcock and Brown was using massive debts as a means of purchase and customers would end up paying the price for this.

He also said the debts would make it impossible for eircom to invest in the next generation of communications technology.

"It's playing pass the parcel with an important piece of national infrastructure and it's the Irish consumers who will ending up paying," he said.