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This paper examines the effects of the EMS crisis of September 1992 on the Irish pound. A review of the Irish experience in the exchange rate mechanism is presented, including an assessment of the extend to which the hard-currency peg pursued after the devaluation of 1986 could be said to have gained credibility for the Irish pound. The behaviour of the Irish interest rates in the aftermath of of sterling's departure form the ERM and the reasons for the protracted attempt to avert a devaluation of the Irish pound are studied. Some implications for progress towards a monetary union in Europe are drawn. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

As one of a set of policies designed to reduce inflation and interest rates to the levels prevailing in Germany the Irish pound has been stabilised in the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) of the European Monetary System since 1986. This paper examines the effect of this policy on short-term interest rates in Ireland. Only limited evidence is found that the exchange rate policy contributed to the reduction in the German-Irish interest rate differential. Sterling interest rates and the level of the Irish pound/sterling exchange rate have continued to influence the level of Irish interest rates. This was bourne out by the impact of the turbulence of September 1992 on Irish money markets. It is suggested that the costs of rigidly pegging the Irish pound in the ERM may outweigh the benefits of this policy. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI

Not applicable The binding of this item renders some marginal text unreadable. A hard copy is available in UCD Library at GEN 330.08 IR/UNI