Vol. 541 No. 2
226 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which his Department is prepared for the introduction of the euro; if he will ensure that the replies to future parliamentary questions show all monetary values in euros and pounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21893/01]
Preparations for changeover to the euro are at an advanced stage in my Department. The Department's payroll and accounting systems have been upgraded to facilitate conversion to the euro from 1 January 2002. The necessary legislative changes have been made to provide for euro equivalents to be charged in respect of all services provided by the Department including passport and consular.
A Euro Changeover Committee has been established to oversee the Department's euro implementation plan. This committee meets on a regular basis and progress reports on the Department's state of preparedness for changeover to the euro are submitted to the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland, ECBI, on a monthly basis. I have asked my Department to arrange that, where appropriate, between now and 1 January 2002 and for a reasonable period thereafter all monetary values in replies to parliamentary questions will be shown in euro and Irish pounds.
