McCreevy focuses tax reductions on lower earners

Saturday/Sunday

Motions supporting the legalisation of cannabis and prostitution were passed by delegates at a Young Fine Gael conference in Co Galway. The motion supporting the legislation and regulation of cannabis was passed by a slim majority, while the support for legalising prostitution was greater.

A policy approving abortion in circumstances where there was a real risk to the long-term health of the woman was also approved.

More than 200,000 people in the State are affected by depression, Dr Patrick McKeon, consultant psychiatrist at St Patrick's Hospital, said at the launch of a new anti-depressant drug. The illness was potentially life threatening and was predicted to become second only to heart disease as a cause of "lost years of healthy life" by 2020.

The DUP deputy leader of the DUP, Mr Peter Robinson, urged Ulster Unionists Party UUP members to "topple" their leader, Mr David Trimble. Speaking at the DUP conference, he declared: said: "Better by far that you topple Trimble now rather than give him time to drag this province step by step to Dublin." The former peace talks chairman, Senator George Mitchell, met Northern Ireland political leaders in Belfast amid pressure from Sinn Fein for White House intervention to break the deadlock in decommissioning. The North's Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, spoke of a "distinct possibility" that President Clinton would try to resolve the decommissioning row but added that he had no specific knowledge of the such a move.

Monday

Telecom companies were able to compete for residential customers with the State operator for the first time. It was revealed that the Minister for Public Enterprise wants to see customers benefit from price reductions of 20 per cent from Telecom companies. A music teacher from south Dublin was jailed for three years for sexually assaulting two young girls who attended music lessons in his home.

Tuesday

A lifeline was thrown to the duty free industry in Ireland when Germany backed a French call for a five-year extension to next June's deadline for abolition. Six countries, including Ireland, expressed support for a review of the abolition decision at Tuesday's meeting of the EU Finance Ministers. The focus of the duty-free campaign was on an extension of the deadline, with most campaigners conceding that a total reversal of the decision was unrealistic.

A Traveller family which had been living for more than three months next to a busy Dublin dual carriageway had its request for facilities at the site turned down by Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown County Council's housing department.

Wednesday

The Minister for Finance signalled a radical change in Government policy on income tax by reforming the allowances system as part of his Budget.

The Minister focused £581 million in reductions on lower earners. Overall the tax reform package ensured that no one earning less than £100 a week would pay any tax, while a single person can now earn £270 before moving to the higher rate of tax.

Esat Digifone indicated that it would consider taking legal action against the Department of Justice if the terms of "a legally binding contract" to erect mobile phone antennae in Kerrykeel, Co Donegal are not adhered to. After serious scuffles in the village between locals and gardai, during which five men were arrested, the Minister for Justice gave a commitment to the local independent ail TD, Mr Harry Blaney, that no Esat antennae would be put on the newly-erected mast.

Thursday

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has no option but to resign following her humiliation as a result of the Budget, the Labour Party TD Mr Brendan Howlin told the Dail.

Speaking during the Budget debates he said Ms O'Donnell had put her job on the line for the inclusion of substantial increases in overseas development aid, which had not been delivered.

Dublin is experiencing the first heroin shortage in more than two years. The price of a deal of heroin has doubled in some areas in the past two weeks. In Ballymun dealers who were selling two bags for £25 last month are now charging £25 for a single bag, or deal. The standard price of £20 charged elsewhere in the city has increased to £35.

There was praise as well as criticism for the former president, Mrs Robinson, in a report released in Washington. The report by Human Rights Watch - the most important human rights monitoring body in the world - says Mrs Robinson was "at her best on Algeria, Rwanda and Colombia". It adds: "She also issued useful protests on Burma, the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, Kosovo, Mexico, Nigeria and Sierra Leone."