The Sunday Business Post have highlighted the rip off going on with the iPhone in Ireland.

I can't find an online link but they highlight the difference between the packages available in the UK and in Ireland. As they put it, "When it comes to 'Eire surcharge' that mobile operators traditionally levy on Irish customers, its business as usual with the iPhone. Basic package customers pay four ties the tariff per minute than British customers do and five times the texting rate. From the phone's basic cost to its data allowances, we will pay more for less than our counterparts on the same operator in Belfast or London. Only on calls outside package limits is the Irish customer better off.'

The thing is, there are so many minutes in the packages in the UK it makes no difference that the outside package minutes cost more.

Basic Package