Saturday/Sunday
A former Minister for Justice, Mr Jim Mitchell, confirmed he had authorised phone taps on about 40 people who might have acted as "potential intermediaries" in the Ben Dunne kidnapping.
The loyalist paramilitary group, the Red Hand Commando, was blamed for an attempt to bomb Sinn Fein offices in Belfast, leading to fears of terrorist attacks in advance of the British general election.
Up to 200 youths were involved in street disturbances in Tallaght, Dublin, after which three gardai required hospital treatment.
The State's birth rate topped 59,000 for the first time since 1992, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, welcomed remarks made by the British Labour Party spokeswoman on Northern Ireland, Dr Mo Mowlam, who said that if the IRA called an immediate ceasefire, her party would strongly consider admitting Sinn Fein to the June talks.
Monday
Senior Orange Order sources indicated moves were afoot to expel prominent members of the Spirit of Drumcree group.
Fianna Fail's education spokesman, Mr Michael Martin, said the party would provide all one teacher schools with an extra teacher if the party was returned to government.
The AA Circuit of Ireland was won by Bertie Fisher of Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh, and Rory Kennedy, of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, in a Subaru Impreza 555.
Bewleys Oriental Cafes blamed market forces for an increase in its coffee of more than 6 per cent, raising the price of a mug of coffee to £1.05.
Tuesday
Armed and masked IRA men appeared at a republican Easter Rising commemoration in Belfast where a Sinn Fein speaker criticised the British Labour Party's record on Northern Ireland.
Over £560 million was wiped off the value of the Irish stock market as investors reacted negatively to falls in US share prices.
The pound closed at its lowest level in three years against sterling, 96p.
The Blood Transfusion Service Board apologised to a blood donor who was mistakenly told she had infectious hepatitis.
Wednesday
An Irish Times/MRBI poll showed that 43 per cent of voters would prefer a Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats coalition, compared with 37 per cent who would prefer a Fine Gael/Labour/ Democratic Left government.
Nearly 2,000 team and race officials and 198 cyclists will be in Dublin for the start of the 1998 Tour de France after Ireland was chosen to host the occasion.
Mr Godfrey Timmins, the Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, announced his retirement after 29 years in the Dail.
Thursday
A majority of voters - 65 per cent - would favour the abortion issue being resolved by another referendum, according to an Irish Times/MRBI poll.
The Government parties seized on disarray within the potential Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats coalition on the water charges issue to attack the proposed alternative government.
The latest returns showed that booming tax revenues would generate up to £400 million more for the Exchequer than the Government budgeted for, giving room for manoeuvre in the 1998 Budget.
The Catholic Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce, commenting on the closure of a vasectomy clinic in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, said the operation was a type of mutilation. Meanwhile, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr James Mehaffey, said the clinic's closure raised issues about the promotion of pluralism. Teachers welcomed the decision by the President, Mrs Robinson, to refer the Employment Equality Bill to the Supreme Court after their unions criticised a section permitting employees of religious medical and educational institutions to be given favourable treatment on religious grounds.
The power station cooling tower at Portarlington, Co Laois, was demolished by a controlled explosion.
Sinn Fein said there was little chance of an IRA ceasefire before the British elections on May 1st.