People should start thinking now about how the euro will affect them because it will soon become a part of their daily lives, according to the new consumer guide to the currency.

The Euro and You: A Consumer guide aims to educate and inform the public on how the single currency will affect all aspects of their lives, from paying electricity bills to using ATMs.

The booklet covers the practical aspects of the introduction of euro notes and coins for consumers including the buying of goods and services, payments of social welfare benefits, wages, banking services, pensions and insurance and travel.

Introducing the guide, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Mr Kitt, said: "The euro will bring many benefits to Irish consumers, including the elimination of exchange rate uncertainty for currencies within the euro zone and the ability to compare the prices of goods and services more easily across borders."

He said that the national code of practice on dual pricing, which was issued by the Government in conjunction with the Director of Consumer Affairs, aims to assist consumers in a practical way by providing for prices to be displayed in euros as well as in pounds in the period leading up to the changeover, as well as ensuring that price conversions are carried out fairly.

Businesses who subscribe to the code will display a logo informing consumers that their business has agreed to the commitments, which include clear and unambiguous dual price displays, in-store information on the euro for customers and a guarantee that no advantage will be sought from the conversion.

All changes are explained in the guide, including expanded consumer rights with the implementation of an EU directive which will extend the guarantee period to two years when you buy goods in the 11 euro zone states.

The guide clearly explains everything you need to know about the euro on a practical level, from the denominations of the new banknotes and coins, accompanied by colour illustrations of each, to how to calculate their equivalent value in pounds and pence, and the timeframe and method of the introduction of the currency.

The 16-page booklet was partly funded by the Euro Changeover Board and also covers consumers' statutory rights in the new era and the benefits it will provide for consumers.

Banks and building societies have committed themselves to charging the same amount for services denominated in euros as in pounds. Sections on bank charges and billing, as well as financial institutions' obligations to the customer trading in the new currency, are spelt out.

Euro notes and coins will come into circulation from January 2002 and the consumer guide is also available on the Internet at www.ecic.ie