Saturday/Sunday
Ireland was reported to be on the verge of an epidemic of viral illness, the Irish Medical Organisation warned, as hospitals reported significant increases in admissions. Emergency admissions of acutely ill patients almost tripled in the previous week. Doctors said they had not seen such a demand for hospital services in more than 10 years.
The family of Ms Rosemary Nelson, Sinn Fein and the SDLP deplored a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North not to take action against RUC officers who allegedly issued death threats against Ms Nelson.
The Manchester United and England soccer star, David Beckham, and his wife, Victoria Adams (Posh Spice), were reportedly the targets of an underworld plot to kidnap Ms Adams and her infant son, Brooklyn.
Monday
Train and bus fares went up for the first time in eight years.
Gardai said they suspected a drugs gang based in the Ballyfermot area of west Dublin might have been responsible for the murder of two young heroin-couriers whose bodies were recovered from the Grand Canal.
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council voted against a motion banning circus shows with wild animals. The decision left the way open for the Il Florilegio circus to open its Irish tour in Booterstown last night.
Mr Richard Jameson, said by loyalist and security sources to be the UVF leader in mid-Ulster, was shot dead at his home on the outskirts of Portadown, Co Armagh. The shooting was linked by loyalist sources to a feud between the UVF and LVF in the town. The latter group denied involvement in the killing.
The Taoiseach began a five-day visit to Lesotho and South Africa designed to boost trade and increase the profile of Irish Aid programmes in the region. He was the first EU head of government to visit Lesotho.
Tuesday
After a period of intense speculation, British Telecom announced that it would pay almost £2 billion for Esat Telecom, entering competition with Eircom for business.
Almost all production at meat plants throughout the State was stopped by picketing by the Irish Farmers' Association. The IFA members were protesting at a £1.80 increase in veterinary inspection fees which has been passed on by the meat companies to the farmers.
The Opposition parties called on the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, to make a full statement on the circumstances surrounding the dropping of charges by the DPP in the case of Ms Jacqueline McIntyre, who was charged with arms possession.
Earlier Ms McIntyre's solicitor had said he had received a letter from Garda sources in relation to how the investigation was being carried out which raised serious allegations.
The European Commission announced legal action against Ireland on four grounds, relating to the "widespread persistent micro-biological pollution of group water supplies".
Wednesday
The Taoiseach warned that the political advances made in Northern Ireland would "fall apart" if decommissioning of paramilitary weapons did not take place by next May. Mr Ahern's prediction places further pressure on the republican movement in the run-up to next month's crucial Ulster Unionist Council meeting.
Dublin and Limerick hosted simultaneous premieres of the film version of Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. The audience response in Limerick was predictably mixed. The city's mayor described the film as "brilliant" while the council's chairman said it was exaggerated.
The Sex Offenders Bill, 2000, was published. When passed, it will oblige sex offenders to notify the Garda of their name and address on conviction or on release from prison.
It was announced that the millionaire businessman, Dr Tony Ryan, and his family are to set up a £5 million academy in west Dublin to train entrepreneurs in management skills and advanced technology.
The Minister for Education and Science, Mr al Martin, announced a new Academy for Performing Arts in Ireland, headquartered in Dublin City University. A second campus will be developed at the University of Limerick's Irish World Music Centre.
Thursday
It emerged that the Government is to set up a judicial inquiry with powers similar to the Flood and Moriarty tribunals to investigate child abuse in State institutions and religious-run primary and secondary schools since the 1940s.
Intel is to begin recruiting 500 to 600 additional technicians as part of a £500 million investment in Leixlip.
The National Museum announced that it is restoring unique silver artefacts dating back more than 1,000 years which were found in Dunmore Cave in Co Kilkenny. In all, 16 items were found with a hoard of silver coins late last year. Some items were made of silver wire in a way which no one has been able to establish.
Plans by CIE to run the Luas light railway to Connolly Station via the International Financial Services Centre have been strongly criticised in the report of the public inquiry into the proposed line extension.