Irish Independent and Michael Noonan

EU member states Netherlands: Five EU member states – the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Hungary – have already adopted similar measures, according to Russia Today. In Ireland alone, the production of one and two cent coins costs more than €3.5 million, with a one cent coin costing 1.65 cents to produce and a two cent coin requiring 2.07 cents. The Irish Cabinet is set to discuss the withdrawal of the small coins with a helping hand from Finance Minister Michael Noonan on Tuesday, government sources told Irish Independent. In the past decade, the mint in Sandyford in Dublin has produced over 1,074 million one cent coins and 906 million two cent coins. ‘Can’t take any more’: Thousands protest in Dublin against proposed water charges Meanwhile, according to reported estimates, the penny jars of ordinary Irish people have turned out to be a real leprechaun pot of gold. In autumn 2013, a trial in Wexford resulted in the withdrawal of small cent coins from the county. Copper currency stockpiled in Irish piggy banks is worth some €35 million, costing the economy over €10 million a year. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.