THE launch of the new £100 note today by the Central Bank may be a little more important than your usual run of the currency mill launch. For, if monetary union happens on schedule, it could be the last new Irish banknote, as the authorities will hardly bother to issue new notes if euros are to be introduced on schedule in 2002.

Maurice O'Connell, the Central Bank governor and Ruairi Quinn will both be on hand, and may well be seen whispering about interest rates in a corner. They might also discuss the future of the bank's currency centre. The Margin's man at the mint tells us it would hope to make a pitch for printing some of the new euros. Assuming, of course, that the great EMU plan all goes ahead on schedule.