Saturday/Sunday
THE IRA was reported to have suspended its campaign of killing alleged drug dealers because of the adverse impact on Sinn Fein's credibility. The move came as the international commission on arms decommissioning began its final week of meetings before the scheduled presentation of its report on Thursday.
The Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Eamon Gilmor announced that he was appointing a commission to take over the running of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board. This followed a Department report which strongly criticised the board.
It was understood that allegations detailed in the report had been the subject of a major Garda investigation and that a file had been with the Director of Public Prosecutions since last summer.
Removal of the threat posed to Ireland by Sellafield would take years of consistent, relentless persuasive action", according to the Minister of State, Ms Avril Doyle. She said Irish opposition to Britain's nuclear industry would involve persuading Britain to forego "over a quarter of its energy source", but added: "It can and will be achieved."
Monday
The Taoiseach indicated that Budget tax changes would be focused on helping the low paid and long term unemployed. Mr Bruton said more people would take up job opportunities if there were greater rewards from work for those whose take home pay was barely above social welfare levels.
It was reported that the Government was close to agreeing Budget measures aimed at reducing unemployment. These were likely to include a substantial increase in PRSI exemption.
A man who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a nun after starting a fire at Whitefriar Street, Dublin, last year, had his sentence adjourned for 12 months when the nun's order offered to give him supervised accommodation. The court heard that the man, who had an alcohol problem, started the fire in a crazy act of madness" after being paid less than he expected for work he had done at a community club.
A spokeswoman for the order said the nuns were giving the man a second chance because he was "genuinely upset and contrite".
The trial of Mr Brendan O'Donnell, charged with the murders of a mother, her three year old son and a priest, opened in the Central Criminal Court. Prosecution counsel said Imelda Riney and her infant son had been "ritually slain" before being buried intertwined in a wood in Co Clare.
The International Body on Decommissioning announced that the Thursday deadline for its report was not likely to be met.
Tuesday
The Taoiseach dampened expectations of large Budget tax cuts. On his departure for Italy, Mr Bruton said there would be reductions, "but I think some of the expectations that have been created are quite unreal". The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, was expected to outline Labour's priorities in the Budget negotiations during a scheduled briefing on unemployment.
The Catholic bishops warned that social and economic divisions were as deep as any between the two religious traditions in the North. In a written submission to the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation, they said that ending violence and securing a political agreement would in themselves consolidate peace.
A witness told the trial of Mr O'Donnell that she had been abducted by the defendant and threatened with death. She said the accused man had told her if he had to kill her "it would be quick".
Jack Charlton said he was "as happy as a pig in muck" alter the Government announced it was awarding him honorary Irish citizenship.
Wednesday
Fianna Fail tabled Dail questions over the Government's choice of QMP to handle publicity during last year's divorce referendum campaign. The Tanaiste's programme manager, Mr Fergus Finlay, accused critics of "grubby attempts" to link Mr Spring and Mr Ruairi Quinn to the QMP appointment. A leading partner of the firm is a brother of the Minister for Finance.
The matter was expected to be raised in the High Court next week when leading Government advisers were thought likely to be called to give evidence.
A dispute flared between, Labour and Democratic Left over long term unemployment. The Minister of State to the Government, Mr Pat Rabbitte, rejected comments by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, that a report by the Task Force on Long term Unemployment represented the Government's definitive response.
It was reported that a Co Wexford priest at the centre of sex abuse allegations would face 44 additional charges when he appeared before Wexford District Court. The defendant would now face a total of 66 charges relating to the abuse of nine young males.
Thursday
The Tanaiste and his advisers were said to be deeply annoyed at the comments of Mr Rabbitte after the publication of the report on long term unemployment. Pre Budget tensions within the Government were being blamed, for the controversy but Opposition parties said it indicated a chaotic approach to the economy.
The Minister for Tourism announced that Dublin's RDS would be the location of a 2,000 seat national conference centre, provided the facility could be operated without public subsidy. A casino would not play any part in the development, Mr Kenny said.
