The European Commission's support for the plan to increase competition in the mobile phone market has been welcomed by the Labour Party.
The telecommunication regulator, Comreg, wants the two dominant players in the Irish market, O2 and Vodafone to open their networks to other service providers but the move is being resisted.
The Commission today supported Comreg saying it would force, if necessary, the telecom giants to allow new entrants into the market access to their networks.
He said the two companies had operated a " de factocartel" leading to "monstrous profits" at a time when there was scope for lower charges.
"Now, ComReg must stick to its guns and insist that the Vodafone and O2 networks are made available to other operators. Then we will begin to see increased competition and lower prices, as the experience of other EU markets," the Labour deputy said.
spokesperson on communications, Mr Tommy Broughan, said there must be an end to the "to the cosy and absolute stitch up of the market that Vodafone and O2 have operated to date."