Saturday/Sunday
THE SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, called for an early British general election and accused Mr Major's government of being afraid to take decisions on the Northern Ireland peace process.
He said he had no doubt that if there was a strong government in Westminster the peace process would "be back on the rails very, very quickly and lives would be saved". Mr Hume also called for an immediate renewal of the IRA ceasefire.
VHI subscribers could face a rise in premiums of at least 6 per cent a year for the next two years, according to a report made for the Department of Health. Even with these increases, the VHI still faces significant operational losses unless it can achieve savings.
Gardai investigating the murder of Ms Sophie Toscan du Plantier in west Cork said they believed that she knew her killer. The dead woman's parents accompanied her body to Dublin, from where it was flown to France for burial.
Monday
Gardai opened an investigation into the murder of Ms Belinda Pereira whose battered body was found in a Dublin city centre apartment on Sunday. The Sri Lankan woman, in her early 20s, had received serious head injuries in the attack. It was believed that the woman, who worked as a prostitute, had been living in London, but had travelled to Dublin on Christmas Eve to work for one week.
Urgent talks continued over the legality of some of the policies of the British health insurer, BUPA. The company's policies were due to take effect on New Year's Day. Meanwhile, the VHI denied media reports that it was in financial crisis and would have to increase premiums by 6 per cent every year for three years to remain solvent.
Tuesday
The VHI rejected compromise proposals designed to remove any legal uncertainty about BUPA's policies, on the eve of its operation beginning in Ireland. However, Government sources indicated they were hopeful that outstanding difficulties between the two health insurance companies would be resolved in last minute talks.
Broadcaster Terry Wogan and BBC correspondent Fergal Keane were awarded OBEs in the British New Year honours list. The list also included the motor racing champion and "honorary Irishman" Damon Hill, who lives in Killiney, Co Dublin.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney was awarded a knighthood, while the musical composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber entered the House of Lords after receiving a baronetcy.
Wednesday/Thursday
The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, said he would take legal action to close down BUPA's operations if the medical insurance products it was offering did not reflect "the principle and practice of community rating".
The Government was not prepared to sanction a medical insurance system which imposed higher premiums on older people and encouraged competing companies to profit from low risk categories, he said. BUPA reassured its existing clients that they would be fully covered under its health insurance and cash plans from January 1st.
Warnings were issued to motorists after heavy snowfalls caused treacherous conditions on the country's roads. In Britain, six people died over two days in accidents linked to the cold. Four died in car accidents, one was found in a frozen pond and another died from a heart attack while trying to dig his car out of the snow. Up to 140 people died across Europe as many countries experienced their worst weather conditions for years.
Confidential Cabinet files showed that the Dublin and Stormont governments had separate intelligence reports in 1966 that the IRA was stepping up recruitment and plans for a campaign of violence in the North.
In preparation for his summit meeting with the British prime minister, Mr Harold Wilson, soon after becoming taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch had been briefed by Mr Peter Berry, secretary of the Department of Justice.
Mr Berry estimated that the number of IRA members "who would obey military orders" was approximately 1,000. The number had increased from an estimated 650 in March 1962, when the organisation ordered a cessation of its violent campaign.
Madison Doyle became the first born baby of the new year in Ireland. She was born four minutes after midnight at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, weighing in at 5lb 13oz.
The body of a woman was taken from the sea at Portmarnock, Co Dublin. She was later identified as Ms Siobhan Murphy of Bray, Co Wicklow, who had been missing since December 13th.
Missing schoolgirl Katie English from Cobh, Co Cork, was reunited with her foster parents and natural mother after being found safe and well in Galway.
The 14 year old had disappeared on December 20th. She stayed with local people in Galway during Christmas.