Two chains in the Irish Republic have announced price freezes during the changeover to the euro in a bid to reassure customers, while retailers in Northern Ireland are worried about the potential for forged euro notes. Superquinn said its freeze would operate from E-Day, January 1, until February 9, when the Irish currency is phased out and trading will be in the euro only. A spokeswoman for the 20-store chain described the changeover as a "confidence-building exercise" and added: "It's important to maintain the trust we have with our customers." Tesco also promised "prices will not increase during the changeover period". It will continue dual pricing until the end of March, well beyond the official deadline. Extra staff will be deployed by all the multiples to help with customer queries and keep checkout queues moving. Organising till floats and keeping them replenished is seen as the biggest potential problem. All change will given be in euros, and Irish coins will be transferred to special holding areas to make room in tills for the new currency. Meanwhile the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association has warned its members on the border who accept punts to watch out for an influx of fake currency during the conversion in Irish Republic. Chief executive Bryan Gray said: "Unscrupulous forgers will use any means possible to get rid of their stocks of forged punts before they become unacceptable tender." And forgers will also take advantage of retail staff's lack of familiarity with the new euro currency to pass off fakes, he said. Gray said: "Border areas will be particularly hard hit as they will be dealing in three currencies ­ pounds sterling, punts and euros. Staff must be trained to deal with all currencies efficiently and stop forgeries when they appear." {{NEWS }}

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