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]

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]

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.