Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 3

Written Answers - Euro Changeover.

Michael D'Arcy

Question:

27 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she proposes to take to increase awareness, information, and involvement on the part of business and the consumer in order to ensure a smooth transition to the euro; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12413/01]

Derek McDowell

Question:

35 Mr. McDowell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, having regard to the concerns she has expressed with regard to the lack of preparation for the introduction of the euro among small companies, she will indicate the specific proposals she has to ensure the maximum possible level of preparation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12193/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Treacy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 35 together.

As the Deputy is aware, our Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has specific responsibility for providing information to assist businesses with their preparations for the changeover to the euro. The EMU business awareness campaign, which is managed by Forfás at the request of this Department, has undertaken this task since it was launched in December 1996. To date, the campaign has produced a comprehensive range of publications of relevance to all sectors of the Irish economy which have been widely disseminated to Irish businesses.

As regards the general lack of information, a survey conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, in December 2000 on behalf of the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign, shows that 72% of all Irish firms have received information on the changeover and have expressed high levels of satisfaction with the information received. However, it is clear from the same research that a considerable number of firms have yet to act on the information provided, particularly in the case of SME firms.

Since the start of this year, as we move into the final phase of the changeover, the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign, has significantly increased its activities. Specific activities have included: a major advertising campaign using television, radio, press and trade publications, with Internet advertising to follow shortly; new guidelines to assist retailers in planning for the changeover, of which 178,000 copies have been distributed through a wide variety of channels including direct distribution by post to 40,000 retailers; presentations on the relevant EMU planning issues for business at meetings, conferences and/or seminars of professional, trade and business organisations, particularly those that represent companies in the SME sector; exhibition stands at appropriate conferences, trade and business exhibitions that facilitate dissemination of campaign messages, particularly to companies in the SME sector; articles-features in relevant publications, newsletters and journals of trade, business and professional organisations particularly those focused on companies in the SME sector. In addition, the campaign will continue with its joint information initiative with Running Your Business, the magazine of the Small Firms Association which is circulated to a dedicated list of 30,000 small firms; a LoCall help-line to assist businesses with their queries regarding changeover issues; a national conference on the euro, which was held in Loughrea, County Galway, that highlighted the changeover experiences of the SME firms involved in the Loughrea euro town project as they switched to euro-based trading. The Loughrea project, which has been run under the auspices of the Forfás EMU business awareness campaign, has identified many practical issues for SMEs in preparing for the euro.

In addition to the campaign's ongoing tasks, other specific activities planned by the campaign for the remainder of the changeover period will include: information will be prepared and distributed to SMEs, in a comprehensive new guide to be published shortly, covering key areas of preparation including accounting, software, payroll, revenue and other issues; production of a training pack for retailers for the purpose of staff training: this will be distributed to every retailer in the country during the summer.

Ultimately, however, it is the responsibility of each firm to ensure that they are able to conduct their business in euro from 1 January 2002 and the EMU business awareness campaign can only assist in providing the necessary information that will assist them to do this. We are satisfied that the necessary information has been, and continues to be, provided to Irish businesses to facilitate them with this task.