Silvio Berlusconi,To act as interim foreign minister
Mr Ruggiero, who is strongly pro-Europe, quit the government late last night after a disagreement with other cabinet members over the government's unenthusiastic reception of the new euro currency.
Meanwhile, the Euro Changeover Board in Ireland said today that it expected the vast majority of cash transactions to be made in the new currency today. Yesterday, the European Commission said that more than 50% of cash transactions in the Eurozone are now being made in the euro.
It said the 50% barrier was broken on Friday evening. The Chairman of the Euro Changeover Board here, Philip Hamell, said that CIÉ was advising pupils and students returning to school or college tomorrow to buy a prepaid ticket or to have the exact fare ready to avoid delays.
