IRELAND HAS CONSIDERED PLANS FOR EURO ZONE BREAKUP, CHANCES OF THIS SLIGHT-FINMIN IN PAPER

VIENNA Nov 26 (Reuters) - Ireland has thought about contingency plans in case the euro zone disintegrates but thinks the chances of this happening are very small, an Austrian newspaper quoted Finance Minister Michael Noonan as saying.

Asked by Der Standard newspaper whether he was bracing for a collapse of the euro zone, Noonan said: "Not in detail. Of course we have considered emergency plans, but the possibility of it coming to this is very slight."

In the interview, which was published in German on Saturday, Noonan said the euro had shown itself to be a strong currency that had fuelled trade in the European Union.

"I would distinguish between the currency and the current debt problem. We have to solve that."