Saturday/Sunday
The case of the 13-year-old pregnant rape victim dominated the news after the High Court put a stay on a Children's Court decision allowing her to travel to Britain for an abortion following an application to appeal by the girl's parents.
Financial markets braced themselves for heavy falls after the 10th-largest securities company in Japan, Yamaichi, announced it was to close with estimated losses of over $25 billion. The biggest corporate collapse in Japan since the second World War sent reverberations through financial markets around the world.
The Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, indicated the deadline for the conclusion of the Northern talks could be extended.
Ireland's golfers, Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington, won the World Cup trophy at the Ocean Course in South Carolina.
Monday
Behind-the-scenes moves to create a pan-unionist front stalled in the aftermath of the previous week's meeting between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Mr David Trimble. Sources indicated that the Ulster Unionist Party leader's cautious belief that he might be able to do business with Mr Ahern had dashed hopes of bringing unionism's factions together for a conference in England this weekend.
The expected slump on international stock markets failed to materialise in the wake of the Yamaichi collapse in Japan.
A Dublin man, Mr Paul Ward, accused of the murder of the journalist Veronica Guerin, was refused bail by the High Court.
Tuesday
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, denied in the Dail he was to blame for the release of five suspected drug-traffickers arrested by gardai. They were set free when it emerged the District Court judge was not among the limited number of judges nominated to grant Garda requests to extend a detention period.
In the Special Criminal Court, Charles Bowden, the first organised crime figure to give evidence in court after being granted State protection, gave evidence against Eugene Holland, who denied drugs charges. Bowden told how hollowed-out dum-dum bullets were used in the murder of Veronica Guerin.
The appeal by the parents of the 13-year-old rape victim against a Children's Court decision to allow her to travel to England for an abortion began in camera in the High Court.
The Avonmore-Waterford Group announced a rationalisation plan which will see 750 jobs in Ireland and 550 jobs in the UK disappear at a cost of £159 million.
In Amsterdam, Mr Brian Meehan was named in court as the person who drove the motorcycle used in the murder of Veronica Guerin. He said he was innocent. Decision in his extradition hearing will be given on December 9th.
Wednesday
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, told the Dail that Government Departments will be required to devolve powers in the North-South body being proposed in the Northern negotiations.
The Minister for Justice announced fundamental reviews of the Garda Siochana. The proposals prompted calls from Garda staff associations for huge pay rises.
TEAM Aer Lingus workers were offered £25 million - £15,600 each for the 1,600 employees - in return for their co-operation in the sale of the company to new investors.
The Attorney General appointed separate legal teams to represent the 13-year-old rape victim and the interests of the unborn in the High Court appeal.
An Inquest was told the death of the triple murderer Brendan O'Donnell in Dublin's Central Mental Hospital was due to heart failure associated with medication he was receiving.
Thursday
Eugene Holland was convicted by three judges in the Special Criminal court of having cannabis for sale or supply. Holland is suspected by gardai of murdering Veronica Guerin.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, warned that he intends to publish evidence in support of the Government's demand for a fresh inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday, leading to fears of a major Anglo-Irish rift.
A leading Belfast loyalist, named locally as Mr Jackie Mahood, was shot and is critically ill. He was a member of the Progressive Unionist Party delegation which took part in exploratory talks at Stormont Castle in 1994.
The High Court appeal by parents of 13-year-old rape victim concluded.