Consumers will be able to access a range of premium rate adult services on mobile phones in the Republic from next April.
But they will have to request a pin number from their operator to use Irish-based services, the regulator in charge of premium rate phone numbers told an Oireachtas committee yesterday.
Mr Pat Breen, the head of Regtel, said his office has sanctioned the adult services using a new phone number prefix, 1559. But he said strict conditions, including a pin code and registration to ensure users are over 18 years, would protect children from unsuitable material.
He said there was already a big market for these types of premium services in Ireland from service providers based overseas, which are currently not regulated. Most premium rate adult content is currently based on pornographic chat lines, but the availability of new mobile phones will make video clips and photographs possible.
In an address to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications yesterday, the chairwoman of the Internet Advisory Board warned these new mobile services would provide a steady diet of "girls, gaming and gambling."
Ms Audrey Conlon said pornography was the biggest concern for parents and new mobile phones would pose a challenge for parents. She also criticised the majority of internet service providers, which have not signed up to self-regulation in Ireland.
Just 14 of the 84 firms offering internet access to consumers and web-hosting services to firms have signed up to the Irish Code of Practice, which attempts to ensure that illegal and offensive material cannot be viewed here.