Mobile phone firms must develop a single all-Ireland tariff so consumers along the Border don't get ripped off with roaming charges, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern warned tonight.
Northern Secretary Peter Hain has also threatened tough action against telecoms operators for failing to harmonise charges.
Phone users along the Border are regularly billed on international rates for making local calls.
"The public are paying through the nose for these roaming charges on a small island of 5.5 million people," said Mr Ahern, who was previously Minister for Communications.
Mr Hain and Mr Ahern have identified all-Ireland tariffs as a practical example of North-South co-operation.
The Dundalk TD said Mr Hain and he will be meeting soon with Irish Communications Minister Noel Dempsey and Northern Ireland Office Minister Angela Smith on the issue.
"We have to end this practice once and for all and ensure there is one charge for the whole island," he said.
"It is absolutely absurd that two years after I raised the mobile roaming charges when I was communications minister the practice is still going on."