North 'should recognise Euro': Morrice

The Stormont Assembly is to debate a motion urging the Government to give dual currency status to the Euro in Northern Ireland, it was announced today.

The motion was tabled by Jane Morrice, a member of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition and a former head of the European Commission Office in Belfast.

Ms Morrice argued that Northern Ireland was a special case as it shared a land border with a member state due to introduce the Euro in January.

She said that if the motion went through next Tuesday, it would be difficult for Tony Blair to ignore the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland.

With large companies already preparing for the impact of the single currency, Ms Morrice said smaller businesses in Northern Ireland would not be able to compete with companies.

She is now calling on other parties to support the motion.