Adoption of Euro is ‘inevitable’ says MLA

SDLP Assembly member Dr Alasdair McDonnell has called for the government to hold a euro referendum soon, to benefit from trade burgeoning in the eurozone.

Dr McDonnell said: “The easy arrival of the euro for the 12 EU countries from January 1 went without a hitch. The euro is now a second currency in most of Northern Ireland and in many parts of south-east England, and its introduction is inevitable.

“People in Belfast have been surprised at the number of local shops and businesses willing to trade in euros.”

The impact of the currency’s introduction on trade across the EU, particularly along border areas – Britain’s only land border with a euro country - had previously been addressed in the Northern Ireland assembly.

Woman’s Coalition MLA Janice Morrow tabled a motion in the assembly last November to have dual currency status conferred to the euro. The motion failed but with the Republic’s January 1 currency changeover exceeding expectations, the debate has been re-ignited.

Mr McDonnell urged the government to bring a referendum forward. He said: “The UK government and the executive need to face up to the reality of the euro and confront the issues surrounding the referendum.”

The government’s attitude has shifted toward a more pro-euro stance recently. Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt has voiced her belief that Britain’s manufacturers and exporters would benefit from eurozone trade shorn of the strong pound. (GMcG)