Currency
 

Which currency is used Ireland?

The punt

The Republic of Ireland uses the euro, which was introduced on January 1, 1999. Euro banknotes and coins will be available as of January 1, 2002. For the time being, Irish pound ("punt") banknotes and coins are used as "units of expression" of the euro. <BR>Northern Ireland uses and will continue to use the English pound. (pound sterling)

Actually, Sjoerd is wrong. Ireland is in the Euro zone, but no-one is using the euro for anything except tying the various currencies together yet. <BR> <BR>You don't buy a euro's worth of petrol or get your wages in euros, there or anywhere. <BR> <BR>So it's still the punt till 2002

Oops; slight error in previous message. The banks can transact in euros. Just not us mere mortals.

Actually, Sheila is wrong. :-) <BR>The euro is the official currency of the Republic of Ireland and 10 other EU countries. The euro was introduced on January 1, 1999. There are no euro banknotes and coins yet, so the "old" currencies are used as "units of expression" of the euro. <BR>"Us mere mortals" can transact is euros as well; I can and do make giro payments in euros, write checks in euros, invest in euros, etc. <BR>Often, people in the UK are very badly informed about EU-matters, which probably is the main reason for their often anti-European instincts and opinions.

Despite all the hype, the "euro" has been an unmitigated disaster so far. Its value against other major currencies (USD, GBP, Yen etc) has fallen steeply since it was first introduced and shows no sign of abating. So Sjoerd, if you want to be paid in a increasingly worthless currency run by faceless bureaucrats that's fine - it is your choice - but recognise that most of us in the UK have no wish to do the same. Long live the pound...

Kenny, you must me very young or have a bad memory. My mother remembers the English pound was more than 10 Dutch guilders in the 1950's, now it is only 3.60 guilders. So is the pound an unmitigated disaster? I personally remember paying 3.70 guilders for a US$ in 1985, now it is only 2.60 guilders. So is the US$ an unmitigated disaster? <BR>Currencies go up and down all the time. Nothing to worry about. Start reading a serious newspaper and ignore the tabloids.

And please do not assume that all Brits agree with Kenny. We will no doubt be the economic losers over this one as well. The sooner we are committed to and in the Eurozone the better it will be for all of us. <BR> <BR>It is only the knee jerk reactions of (mostly English) nationalsits which have stopped us taking this step. The only glimmer on the horizon is that it is tearing the Conservative Party apart. And that can't be a bad thing.

Wow! and all that was asked was which currency is used in Ireland! ;-)