A CAMPAIGN to help businesses prepare for the single European currency has been launched by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment. The State agency Forfas has been appointed to co ordinate the new project, Mr Bruton said yesterday.

The initiative aims to inform businesses on how to adequately prepare for the switch over to the euro in January 1999. Speaking to representatives from the small business sector in Dublin, Mr Bruton warned that European Monetary Union would involve considerable change for most businesses.

"For some sectors, such as retail and finance the new regime will present very real technical and fundamental commercial challenges" the Minister said.

And although EMU would present opportunities for the Irish business sector, he warned that firms would also need to take steps to protect themselves from the many serious threats the change over would entail.