...comes from Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern. Speaking yesterday about the introduction of euro notes and coins, he said:

"It's going very well and very successfully after a lot of planning. 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's sharing our identity and part of our sovereignty in the new currency. It's been planned for the better part of a decade, and is a major step."