Far-reaching new powers for Revenue announced

Saturday/Sunday

Saturday/Sunday

It was another big weekend for rugby fans, but a second taste of victory eluded them when Ireland were narrowly defeated by France in a Five Nations Cup match in Dublin. An allegation in a British newspaper that Irish out-half and star of the previous week's Ulster team, David Humphreys, had tested positive in an unspecified pre-match test was vigorously denied, and it was pointed out that he had not had a test in the previous three years.

There was Concern for the future of the Northern peace process with the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, conceding that the deadline for the devolution of powers could be missed.

The fallout from the McCabe murder trial continued, with the Association of Superintendents planning to meet the Minister for Justice to discuss the decision of the prosecution to accept a manslaughter plea.

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For the second year running the Statoil international car rally in Salthill, Galway, was followed by disturbances. A Galway residents' association wants the rally to be cancelled in future.

Monday

The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said that he considered the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe to come under the terms of the Belfast Agreement, and therefore to be eligible for early release. Gardai are to investigate allegations of witness intimidation.

As the two tribunals continued, there was speculation that the former Dublin assistant city and county manager, Mr George Redmond, might become a "friendly witness" for the Flood tribunal. Evidence emerged that the Lutonbased property developer, Mr Tom Gilmartin, visited Leinster House five times, four of them through the introduction of EU Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn.

The Irish-born novelist, Iris Murdoch, died, aged 79, from Alzheimer's Disease.

Tuesday

The Minister for Justice Mr O'Donoghue, announced new laws to counter possible witness intimidation. As well as making the attempt to intimidate a witness an offence, these will include provision for evidence via videolink and making it an offence to attempt to trace relocated witnesses.

At the Moriarty tribunal it emerged that the head of the company which won the contract to run National Lottery machines, Mr Guy Snowden, had invested $100,000 in Celtic Helicopters, the company owned by the son of the former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey.

It also emerged that former minister Dr John O'Connell had been asked directly by Mr Haughey to invest in his son Ciaran's helicopter business. Dr O'Connell had given Mr Haughey a cheque for £5,000.

In the ongoing saga of the alleged transfer of £50,000 from Mr Gilmartin to Mr Flynn, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said the Government had full confidence in the European Commissioner's exercise of his European functions. In the planning tribunal, to which Mr Flynn has said he will make a statement, Mr James Gogarty ended his direct evidence and started to prepare himself for cross-examination.

In the North the Orange Volunteers admitted an attack on a Catholic-owned public house in Castledawson, Co Derry.

Wednesday

Ms Beverly Cooper-Flynn, the daughter of the EU Commissioner, voted against a Government amendment to a Fine Gael motion, which called on Mr Flynn to make a statement on the Gilmartin allegations. She thereby lost the Fianna Fail whip.

Athlete Sonia O'Sullivan announced she is pregnant. The baby is expected in June.

The Irish Farmers' Association announced another series of demonstrations against the CAP reform contained in Agenda 2000.

A man pleaded guilty in Tullamore Circuit Court to possessing a knife and a length of plastic piping and to stealing a car. During his trial it was alleged by the prosecution he had been planning to abduct a child in order to abuse her.

According to latest figures, suicides in Ireland number more than 500 a year, a 100 per cent increase in the last decade.

Thursday

The Minister for Finance announced new, far-reaching powers for the Revenue Commissioners. These will include power to access bank account records where tax evasion is suspected and measures to combat the problem of Irish-registered non-resident companies.

Another US businessman, Mr Cruse W. Moss, was named as an investor in Celtic Helicopters.

As the Gilmartin/Flynn controversy continued, Fine Gael announced plans to seek Mr Flynn's resignation if he does not clarify his position.

Glen Dimplex chairman and member of the National Gallery of Ireland Foundation, Mr Martin Naughton, and his wife Carmel announced a gift of £1 million to the gallery.

The Garda Representative Association asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the leniency of the sentences of the men convicted of the manslaughter of Det Garda McCabe.

As more than 1,100 lawyers signed a petition calling for a judicial inquiry into the murder of Belfast lawyer Pat Finucane, a new report on his death claims there was collusion from the British security forces.