The Taoiseach said he would consider a suggestion by the Fine Gael leader that a leaflet on Y2K compliance be issued to every household in the State.

Mr Ahern said that house alarms were among the items most vulnerable to embedded chips. "As regards the insurers, it would have been helpful if all that had been highlighted for people a long way back. If the alarm system does not operate, and, thus, one's household insurance is not valid, it seems a bit unfair to me."

Mr John Bruton suggested that the Taoiseach should ask the responsible minister to contact all insurance companies to ensure that timely information on the extent of cover for Y2K-related problems was issued to all households.

"Secondly, will he ask whether they would consider jointly financing with the Government a leaflet to be issued to every household in regard to matters they need to take in hand to ensure they are Y2K-compliant as of January 1st next year?

"Is the Taoiseach aware that the government of New Zealand has issued such a communication to every household there telling them exactly what they have to do and what they should check for Y2K compliance? Would he not agree that something like that should be done here also?"

Mr Ahern said he would raise the matter with the Minister concerned. During the summer, he had asked all the financial institutions to run a similar campaign for small and medium-sized industries, and he acknowledged that they had done that quite successfully during the summer.