Minister queries plan for airlines to have stake in Aer Lingus

Saturday/Sunday

It emerged that the Government is delaying a decision on when to introduce legislation to provide pensions to the two judges and the senior court official who resigned over the Sheedy affair until it sees how they respond to requests to explain their actions.

The general secretary of the Irish Bank Officials' Association said his members would seek at least £2,000 each for working over the millennium bank holiday. That figure is double what is being sought by gardai and sets new watermarks for other groups of workers such as baby-minders and bar staff.

At the Progressive Democrats party conference, party leaders announced they would press for a review of the Programme for Government during the summer. They will also seek a radical economic plan for future economic development. Newly-ordained Tridentine priest Sinead O'Connor said she would live the rest of her life in Lourdes. The singer said she wished to be known as Mother Bernadette Mary O'Connor. She rejected criticism of her ordination from Tridentine Bishop Pat Buckley, who said he was concerned the singer might have committed simony - the act of paying for a sacrament - by donating £150,000 to and agreeing to fund a hernia operation for Bishop Michael Cox, who ordained her.

Monday

An Irish Times/RTE poll suggested the Belfast Agreement would receive a slightly higher level of support among Northern voters in the event of a second referendum. A majority of Northerners are in favour of forming an executive only after paramilitary weapons are decommissioned, according to the poll.

A man due in court on Monday morning was found shot dead in Ranelagh, Dublin, just hours before his trial was due to begin. Mr Martin Comerford (36) was charged with the murder of Mr Anthony Beatty at a public house in November 1997.

The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court granted Philip Sheedy an extension of time in which to lodge an appeal against his sentence for dangerous driving causing death.

Tuesday

Gardai celebrated what they viewed as a major victory against organised crime with the conviction of drug dealer Joseph Delaney for murder. The case was the first successful gangland murder trial. Gardai benefited from co-operation from criminal gang members, some of whom agreed to testify against Delaney.

Specialist Garda teams searched boglands in the midlands as part of Operation Trace, which was established to investigate the disappearance of women from the greater Leinster area. The searches were concentrated on Creggan, just off the Athlone-Moate road, and Kilbride bog, which is close to Clara, Co Offaly.

Wednesday

The sale of Cablelink was suspended amid allegations that one of the companies interested in buying tried to rig the outcome, and that the consultants overseeing the deal accepted an invalid bid. There was also surprise in the industry at the amounts being bid: the top price being offered for the State-owned firm was said to be more than £500 million. In a late High Court proceeding at his home, Mr Justice O'Donovan issued orders restraining Telecom Eireann and RTE from selling Cablelink to NTL or any other company until Friday.

Sinead O'Connor said she had sought the return of a £150,000 donation she gave to the dissident bishop who ordained her in order that doubt would not be cast on the validity of her priesthood. She contacted her bank to cancel the transfer of the money to Bishop Michael Cox, who said he was willing to return it. The Parliamentary Labour Party agreed to adopt a policy demanding a referendum before any decision was made by the Government over joining Partnership for Peace.

The Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton, announced the establishment of a judicial committee, whose tasks will include establishing a system for handling complaints about judges and advising on a new judicial body to "contribute to high standards of judicial conduct".

Thursday

The Central Bank warned banks and building societies they are lending too much to mortgage borrowers and fuelling excessive increases in house prices. In a strongly-worded letter, the governor, Mr Maurice O'Connell, accused them of "disturbing practices" in assessing the size of loans and asked for a detailed reply from the boards.

Figures released by the Public Offices Commission showed property developers and major businesses accounted for the vast majority of the £750,000 given to the State's political parties last year. A Goodman company, AIBP, Mr John Magnier's Coolmore Stud, and the Glen Dimplex chairman, Mr Martin Naughton, were among the donors to Fianna Fail. Dr Tony O'Reilly's brother-in-law, Mr Peter Goulandris, and Waterford Crystal, chaired by Dr O'Reilly, gave money to Fine Gael.

The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, expressed reservations about the proposal that British Airways and American Airlines jointly take a 10 per cent share in Aer Lingus. Ms O'Rourke received a report from the board of the company proposing that the airline conclude a strategic alliance with BA and AA.