A code of practice in the dual display of prices in Irish pounds and euros comes into operation today.
Shops and businesses, who have signed up to the scheme, will display a special logo on their premises to show they are committed to implementing the changeover fairly.
Speaking at the launch of the code of practice, the Minister for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Tom Kitt, said that the dual display of prices is the key to helping consumers and traders prepare for and become more confident in using the euro.
'Through exposure to dual display, consumers can compare prices between Irish pounds and euro and build up a scale of values for themselves in the new currency,' he added.
Minister Kitt said he was very pleased with the level of subscriptions to date to the codes and warned that the ultimate sanction for any trader who seeks to take advantage of the changeover should be loss of business.
The Director of Consumer Affairs, Carmel Foley, also urged consumers to 'look our for the logo that looks out for you'.
She said today was the start of her office's campaign to let consumers know they can shop confidently wherever they see the logo as those retailers displaying it had guaranteed not to take unfair advantage of their customers during the changeover.
* Bus Eireann has confirmed that it is aware of a discrepancy in the conversion rate between punts and euros on its computerised tickets. The company introduced dual-pricing on tickets a few weeks ago but the rate of conversion between the currencies is incorrect.
The computerised ticket machines reverse the formula for conversion so that the price in euros is less than the price in punts. A Bus Eireann spokesman said there had been no complaints about the discrepancy and added that the company will rectify the problem before the euro changeover on January 1, 2002.
