Saturday/Sunday
PREPARATIONS for the new phase of the peace process got under way. The Government indicated that officials would meet Sinn Fein if the party wished but not at Stormont.
Sinn Fein was not invited to the talks, while the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party said they would not attend, chiefly because the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, would be there. Sinn Fein chairman Mr Mitchel McLaughlin said the talks process was taking on the dimensions of a "farce".
The Voice, written by Brendan Graham and sung by Anuna's Eimear Quinn, won this year's Eurosong contest. The 23 year old Dublin singer must now go through a semi final in Geneva next month to qualify for the final of the Eurovision song contest in Oslo in May.
Monday
Hundreds of children sent to the US for adoption have found their birth certificates are false The Irish Times reported. The children who were sent in batches during the 1950s and 1960s ranged in age from one to seven.
Four of the five directors of the Football Association of Ireland resigned, leaving the organisation's president, Mr Louis Kilcoyne, in isolation. The directors who resigned were Mr Joe Delaney, Mr Des Casey, Mr Michael Hyland and Mr Pat Quigley.
There was a confusing opening to the multilateral consultation process at Stormont. A Sinn Fein delegation was turned away from the gates while unionist parties refused to enter. But the Tanaiste said it was a start and called on all political parties to show "political leadership" and engage in the preparatory talks.
Mr Brendan O'Donnell began giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court where he is standing trial for the murders of Imelda Riney, her son Liam and Father Joe Walsh. Mr O'Donnell told the court his father regularly beat him with a hammer and shovel when he was a child. He said he was convinced he was possessed by the devil and believed he had special powers.
Tuesday
The US ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, was censured by the US Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher, for allegedly retaliating against two officials who dissented from her recommendation to grant Mr Gerry Adams a visa in 1994.
A report on the affair said: "From an initial reaction which did not evidence anger, the ambassador became increasingly upset and hardened in her unhappiness toward them after discussing the cable with a US senator who reportedly viewed the incident as insubordination."
Fine Gael denied it had authorised an approach to Mr Larry Goodman for a contribution to the party. The approach by a Fine Gael trustee, Mr Sean Murray was made on July 19th last year.
Mr Brendan O'Donnell told the Central Criminal Court that he shot Imelda Riney after the devil told him she was the devil's daughter. He felt very happy afterwards, he said.
In the Dail, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, steadfastly refused to confirm or deny that he had asked the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, to consider abstaining in the crucial House of Commons vote on the Scott report to ease Mr Major's parliamentary difficulties.
Belfast republican Mr John Fennell was beaten to death in a caravan park in Bundoran, Co Donegal. Gardai expressed concern for the safety of another man, Mr James Halligan, who was with Fennell shortly before his murder.
Wednesday
The Cork doctor alleged to have video taped female patients during examination appeared in court in the early hours of the morning. Dr James Barry flew to Dublin after being released from custody in Cork. Gardai travelled from Cork by car to the hearing in the High Court. Dr Barry alleged that while being detained by gardai in Cork he was denied appropriate access to his solicitor.
Labour Ministers Ms Eithne Fitzgerald and Mr Ruairi Quinn apologised to the Dail for invitations to a £100 a plate dinner written on semi official Government note paper. The invitations promised a rare opportunity" to gain access to the Minister for Finance before the publication of the Finance Bill.
A date for talks between Mr David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist Party leader, and three Government party leaders was set for Monday.
Mr Brendan O'Donnell told the Central Criminal Court that Imelda Riney had appeared before him as he lay in his bed in the Central Mental Hospital. He also said he heard the devil's voice a couple of times a day.
Thursday
The IRA said it would not meet the Mitchell recommendations on decommissioning weapons in parallel with talks. In an interview in An Phoblacht/Republican News it said it saw the necessity for armed struggle because "the necessary dynamic to move us all away from conflict" did not exist.
The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, used official Department notepaper for invitations to a Fine Gael fund raising dinner, it was reported. Guests who were asked for £100 to attend the function on March 22nd will meet the Taoiseach.
The Western Health Board's intervention in the Kelly Fitzgerald case was "naive and ineffective" in its attempt to protect her and her sister from the danger that their parents posed to them, an inquiry found.
The Government is moving towards a decision to join the Nato sponsored Partnership for Peace programme which could involve Irish troops serving with Nato forces on peacekeeping missions. A final draft of the White Paper on Foreign Policy which contains the proposal will be put before Cabinet on Tuesday.