A protest against the abolition of the pound and the conversion to euros is to be held on New Year's Day in Dublin. Described as "the start of the fight-back to break the link with the euro and re-establish a national currency", the campaign is being organised by Mr Anthony Coughlan, Ms Patricia McKenna MEP, Mr Michael O'Reilly and Mr Eugene McCartan.

The organisers of "Citizens for Keeping the Irish Punt" said their aim is to re-establish a national currency and "with it, democratic control of credit, interest rates and the exchange rate in the interests of the Irish people".

Describing Friday's protest as a citizens' demonstration "open to everyone", the organisers argue that by abolishing the pound, the Government is turning the Republic into a province of the EU. At the same time, it is giving the EU "one of the two classical features of being a state".

They describe the abolition of the pound as "the end of the economic independence of the Irish State and a fundamental subversion of the national democracy of the Irish people and their ability to control their own affairs".

The protest will be held at the Central Bank Plaza on Friday at noon.