Ireland has moved a step closer towards next year's takeover of the common European currency in Dublin this evening.
Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy signed four orders completing legislative arrangements for the switch from the pound to the euro on January 1 next.
The orders, made under the Economic and Monetary Union Act of 1998, allowed for:
- The withdrawal of legal tender status from Irish pound notes and coins from February 9, 2002, in line with the agreed changeover plan;
- The calling in of Irish coins from February 10;
- The design of euro coins to be issued on January 1;
- The start of powers to issue euro coins from January 1.
Mr McCreevy said both currencies would continue to be legal tender for six weeks after the start of the new year, and that details of the changeover were available on the website www.euro.ieor from a loCall telephone number.