Neasa Hourigan
Question:279. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered placing Irish animals on the Irish euro coins; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12736/21]
View answerWednesday, 10 March 2021
Questions (279)
Written answers
The role of the Minister of Finance is to authorise the issuance of circulating and commemorative coins. The Central Bank of Ireland acts as an agent for the Minister in issuing all Irish coin, both circulating and commemorative. The Central Bank has responsibility for the design, production and issuance of euro coins.
Under European guidelines, euro coins have a common obverse side and individual countries in the Eurosystem are not permitted to change the obverse side of a euro coin.
The design on the reverse side of the Irish euro coin is the harp, which is a symbol synonymous with Ireland and has been always depicted on Irish coins. Accordingly, the Minister is not considering replacing the harp with Irish animals on the Irish euro coins.
Over the years, the commemorative coin programme has celebrated a wide variety of themes, including animals and wildlife. Between 2010 and 2012, the Central Bank issued three silver proof coins to honour the Percy Metcalfe designs of the first coins of the Irish Free State. These coins commemorated the images of the horse, the salmon and the Irish Wolfhound. The theme of the Annual Mint Set to be issued 2021 is ‘The Irish Honey Bee’ and its role within the environment.
The Central Bank is seeking submissions from the public, until Friday 12 March 2021, in relation to the collector coin programme for 2022. All submissions, including any submission relating to the inclusion of Irish animals on our coin, will be considered as part of the commemorative coin programme.
The Collector Coin Unit at the Central Bank can be contacted directly at coindesign@centralbank.ie.