John Bruton
Ceist:266 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the ceremonies, if any, members of the Government will attend to mark the launch of the single currency on 1 January 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27513/98]
Vol. 498 No. 4
266 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the ceremonies, if any, members of the Government will attend to mark the launch of the single currency on 1 January 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27513/98]
In accordance with Article 109L(4) of the Treaty on European Union, the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers, ECOFIN, will, acting with the unanimity of the member states without a derogation, on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Central Bank, adopt a Council regulation irrevocably fixing the conversion rates between the euro and the currencies of the member states adopting the euro.
A joint communiqué of 1 December 1998 from the Council and the Commission announced that the Commission will propose the rates for adoption at 12.30 Central European time on 31 December 1998 in a televised Council session and that the Council will adopt the regulation and will inform the public of its adoption at around 13.30 CET. The communiqué also states that the regulation will be applicable as from 1 January 1999, 0.00 a.m. local time.
I will of course be attending the Council meeting in Brussels.