Irish premier urges UK to adopt euro

Mr Ahern makes his first purchase with the new currency

The Irish Taoiseach has said he hopes Northern Ireland and Britain sign up for the euro soon.

Bertie Ahern was one of the first people to spend the new notes and coins which came into circulation in the Irish Republic and 11 other European nations on Tuesday.

Mr Ahern bought some groceries at a small newsagents in his constituency of Drumcondra in north Dublin.

He paid for some of his purchases with punts, which remain as legal tender until 9 February, and some with euro he received as a gift from the Belgian Prime Minister.

This helps bring a kind of a sense of justice to Europe, and that is what it is all about

Bertie Ahern TD

"It is going very well and very successfully after a lot of planning," said Mr Ahern.

"People are interested, it's something new. "This helps bring a kind of a sense of justice to Europe, and that is what it is all about. It is sharing our identity and part of our sovereignty in the new currency. It has been planned for the better part of a decade, and is a major step."

The launch of the new currency came a day early in the Republic due to New Year's Day being a bank holiday.

All day a queue formed outside the Central Bank where people exchanged their punts and pence for euro and cent.

'Changeover day'

Their enthusiasm was met with a little Irish hospitality with bank officials offering champagne, hot whiskey and hot drinks to stave off the effects of the bitterly cold weather.

"We opened at 10.00am, but people were gathering outside from 7.45am, and the average wait for cash has been about one hour," said a spokesman for the bank.

"It seems some of them just want to be able to say they were there at the Central Bank on changeover day."

The country's finance minister described the arrival of the new currency as "historic".

Charlie McCreevy said it was proof of the republic's economic health that it was able to sign up for the euro without the UK joining.

It is estimated that 80% of the Republic's ATMs will be dispensing the currency by the end of the day.

Sweden, Denmark and the UK are the only members of the EU not to join the monetary union.