The Stormont Assembly has rejected a proposal that would have introduced the euro into Northern Ireland from next month.
Unionist parties united to block the plan, proposed by the Women’s Coalition and supported by the SDLP.
The proposal called for Britain "to make the necessary legal and financial arrangements for the euro to be officially recognised as a second currency alongside sterling in Northern Ireland" after January 1 next year.
Ms Jane Morrice of the Women's Coalition said she was "glad that for the first time we have had a serious debate on the issue."
"Within months we will see euros coming here," she said. "People don't think it concerns them, that the euro zone will not affect us, they are mistaken."
However the DUP’s Rev Ian Paisley, described the resolution as a "silly little motion, (which) would not cure the ills of the farmers in Northern Ireland."
The UUP also voted against the motion, which was rejected on a show of hands.
Mr Dara O'Hagan of Sinn Féin said that the euro was "an issue not debated enough."
However he said Sinn Féin did not support its introduction because they thought it would not be practical, and also because they wanted an "all Ireland currency" distinct from the euro.
AFP