Nearly half of all Irish companies plan to price in euros, while 38 per cent intend to invoice in euros during 1999, the latest EMU Business Awareness survey has shown.

The survey, carried out for Forfas, found that 49 per cent of companies will adapt their accounting systems to cater for the euro and 46 per cent will open a euro bank account.

Large companies, exporters and those located in Dublin and Munster were the most advanced in terms of preparation. On a sectoral basis, chemical and textile companies are the furthest ahead while construction and food companies were lagging, the survey found.