War on mobiles for kids ratchets up as Irish phone companies agree to Governments ban plan in ‘proactive step’ [Video]

IRISH phone companies have signed up to the Government’s push to stop kids having smartphones.

Education Minister Norma Foley has been calling on parents not to give children a mobile until they hit 13.

Earlier this year, the Fianna Fail TD met with phone firms and social media companies to try and get them on board.

Now some of the biggest mobile brands — including Vodafone, Eir, Three, Tesco, Virgin Media and An Post — have got behind her crusade.

Minister Foley said: “They have stepped forward to say that they support and they endorse the initiative of the Department of Education working with schools, and in particular, working with parents.

“I think that is a very …