Saturday/Sunday
THE Garda Siochana called for an end to public discussion on its, Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, drugs operation in which £130 million worth of cannabis was brought into the State last November.
The Garda said lives were at, risk and "non constructive irresponsible reporting by some sections of the media and political points scoring" had seriously damaged an international investigation.
In response, Ms Liz O'Donnell of the Progressive Democrats said the Garda had produced a one dimensional comment on concerns raised by deputies of three political parties it and Government appeared to resent any reaction other than uncritical admiration.
In his first Fine Gael ardfheis as Taoiseach, Mr Bruton painted a picture of a caring society where money did not override friendship. He appealed to the republican movement to stop thinking of threats and start thinking of peaceful persuasion.
In his party address he said it was the failure of the republican movement to follow the logic of the peace process that was fundamental to its breakdown.
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, warned Sinn Fein that the Government was prepared to pursue the peace process with or without its participation.
Monday
At its first sitting, the Hepatitis Tribunal awarded £1/4 million to one woman. Government set up the tribunal as part of its treatment package for the more than 1,500 women infected by hepatitis C as a result of blood transfusions or blood products administered, by the National Blood Transfusion Board.
The Western Health Board announced it would not publish the report on the death of teenager Kelly Fitzgerald as it feared legal action by board staff.
Cardinal Cabal Daly said the media had done the Catholic Church a service in reporting recent scandals. But he warned against what he described as anti church campaigning and suggested that the space given to these stories was disproportionate.
Tuesday
Unionist and nationalist politicians urged loyalist paramilitaries to maintain their ceasefire after the Combined Loyalist Military Command warned of a "blow by blow" response to further IRA violence.
The UDA, the UVF and the Red Hand Commando warned in a statement that they were poised to resume conflict. The statement was issued as the IRA admitted it had planted a bomb in a litter bin in London, raising further fears that the peace process was disintegrating.
Taxpayers will have to pay the EU fines imposed because of irregularities in the beef trade. The bill for more than £100 million "cannot legally be recovered from the industry, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, said.
The by election caused by the death of Mr Brian Lenihan will take place on April 2nd.
Mr Brendan O'Donnell attempted suicide by trying to strangle himself, the Central Criminal Court heard. Mr O'Donnell is being tried for the murder of Ms Imelda Riney (29), her three year old son Liam and local curate Father Joseph Walsh. The trial continued in his absence.
The first male to be awarded compensation for hepatitis C infection received £40,000 from the tribunal.
Wednesday
Four Irish trained horses won at the Cheltenham festival. Pride of place went to Klairon Davis, which romped home at 9-1 to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The Minister of State, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald, should consider her position in Government, the Progressive Democrats said. This followed her decision to cancel a Labour Party £100 a plate fund raising lunch to which she invited participants with a promise of a chance to meet the Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn.
Tragedy struck the Scottish town of Dunblane when gunman Thomas Hamilton (43) burst into the gym at the local national school and killed 16 children aged five to six along with their teacher Gwenne Mayor.
The chairman of the IFA's livestock committee, Mr Raymond O'Malley, told a protest meeting outside the Dail that the general secretary of the ICTU, Mr Peter Cassells, was a hypocrite, because of his statement that the PAYE sector should not have to pay the EU beef fines. The protest was over falling beef prices and the "possibility that farmers might levied because of the fine.
At its spring meeting, the Catholic Hierarchy welcomed plans introduce religion as an examination subject in schools. Students who take the new subject may choose between two core areas: World Religion and The Origins of Christianity.
The Government parties split on the floor of the European Parliament over neutrality, with Fine Gael supporting the gradual merging of the Western European Union alliance into the EU, with the tasks of the WEU being made binding on all EU members.
The resolution stated that Ireland and other neutrals would not be bound to defend other members, and due regard would be given for the sensitivities of Ireland and others. But Labour's Ms Bernie Malone broke with her Fine Gael colleagues, saying the WEU/EU merger was against what the Irish people stood for right now.
Thursday
Nearly 400 jobs in Tallaght, Dublin, are under threat at W.R. Jacob and Packard Electric. Both companies are seeking 200 redundancies each.
Imperial Call, trained near the mid Cork village of Carrigadro hid, beat the favourite to win steeplechasing's greatest prize, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The winner's enclosure was swamped as Wexford born jockey Conor O'Dwyer brought the horse into the ring.
Schoolchildren throughout Ireland prayed for the victims of the Dunblane massacre. Hundreds of schools opened books of condolence for the families of the children and the teacher who died when a gunman opened fire in the gym of the primary school.
The largest trade union in the country, SIPTU, has cut back on expenses for members of its executive committee. In recent years it is understood that some members have claimed amounts of £10,000 to £20,000.