Vodafone and O2 should publish accurate tariff and usage statistics for Irish mobile phone users to prove they are not ripping off consumers, an industry lobby group said yesterday.

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators (ALTO) also told a telecoms conference in Dublin that a delay in launching mobile number portability in the Republic was having a negative effect on competition.

Mr Iarla Flynn, chairman of ALTO, said Irish mobile users paid the highest bills in the European Union and the domestic market was still uncompetitive in terms of choice and price.

"Vodafone and O2 have claimed that this is because Irish mobile users talk more. So far they have provided no proof to back up this claim," he said.

All the Irish mobile companies have so far refused to publish up-to-date average minutes-per- user data that would enable analysts to better compare usage patterns and the cost of services.

However, Mr Niall Norton, chief financial officer at O2 Ireland, told The Irish Times it may release these figures tomorrow during its results announcement.

"We would be keen to have the average minutes-per-use figure published ... but it is a decision for group headquarters at MmO2."

Mr Norton also dismissed claims by ALTO that the high fees which mobile firms charged fixed operators to carry mobile calls was costing business and consumers €300 million per annum.

He said O2 Ireland's termination fees were recently found to be among the cheapest in Europe.

Meanwhile, Mr Andrew Kelly, director of regulatory and corporate affairs at the third mobile firm Meteor, said Vodafone must not be allowed to delay further the introduction of a new mobile number portability system.

This system - which was scheduled to be introduced earlier this year but has now been delayed until July - will enable post-paid and business customers to switch their mobile network supplier but keep their full mobile number, including the prefix.

Mr Kelly said full number portability held the potential of being the sharpest competitive tool in the box for Meteor.

It was a vital element in the armoury of any new entrant, he added.

The Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg) recently mandated that the new system be in place by July 25th.