Written Answers. - Job Protection.
Ivor Callely
Question:
103
Mr. Callely
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
if she has satisfied herself with the supports in place for businesses with regard to the current EMU market; the difficulties, if any, brought to her attention; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[3363/00]
In reply to the Deputy's question, one of the most important steps taken in this regard was the establishment of an EMU business awareness campaign, which forms an integral part of the National Information Programme on the euro. The campaign has been managed by Forfás since 1996 and the primary aim of this campaign is to ensure that business operations in Ireland are in possession of all the information necessary to fully prepare them for the introduction of the single currency, euro, throughout participating states.
To this end, the campaign has harnessed the support and co-operation of all the main business, trade and professional organisations together with the relevant State development agencies that are in close contact with firms of all sizes in all sectors of the economy. These are represented on the campaign's consultative committee that provides a forum for co-ordination, co-operation and information exchange. In particular, the members of the committee act as information multipliers in terms of disseminating material to their respective members.
On a strategic level, this campaign has produced, or is currently preparing the following: a study has been produced on options for company strategy in the event of euro/sterling fluctuations; the primary objective of this study was to identify a range of specific actions that companies can adopt to reduce the competitive impact of sterling exchange rate fluctuations; the checklist of possible actions for companies to consider was incorporated as a new document in the campaign's information pack, What about Sterling? Actions for Companies; a business strategies study has recently been undertaken to explore the strategic options available to Irish companies, particularly SMEs, in order to take advantage of the opportunities EMU has created in completing the single market; arising from this study, guidelines and recommendations appropriate to Irish companies wishing to start or increase their business links with other EMU countries are in production as three new inserts to be included in the information pack as well as a more comprehensive booklet on the key issues; a study of the software industry in Ireland is currently being completed which will seek to determine the level and extent of euro-compliant software solutions that are currently available to facilitate Irish businesses in making the changeover; this will include recommendations for appropriate action, if required, to address any potential difficulties identified by the study.
Under the campaign to date a comprehensive range of publications has been produced and widely disseminated to the business community together with a number of media campaigns. These include: – 60,000 copies of the campaign's information pack, which is a comprehensive guide for business on all the relevant issues; 143,000 copies of a short, user-friendly brochure summarising the key issues for SME's in relation to EMU and the changeover to the euro; 28,000 copies of a guide to facilitate those involved in cross-Border trade; 94,000 copies of an initial guide for retailers Is your Retail Business Ready for the euro?; 45,000 copies of comprehensive guidelines on the IT issues that need to be considered by companies regarding the changeover to the euro; a regular newsletter, EuroChange, of which twelve issues have been produced to-date, with over 25,000 copies of each issue distributed.
I am satisfied that the information and supports which Irish businesses require to make the necessary preparations is widely available through the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign and other business sources. I would emphasise, however, that the final responsibility for prepar ing for EMU and the changeover to the euro ultimately rests with each individual business firm.
