Saturday/Sunday
The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, announced an "absolute" deadline of June 30th for the devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly. His ultimatum followed the failure of the Ulster Unionist Assembly party to approve proposals thought to have been agreed by its leader, Mr Trimble, with the Irish Government, the SDLP and Sinn Fein.
The proposals would have seen the d'Hondt procedure for the appointment of ministers in a power-sharing executive triggered in the coming week, with full devolution achieved by the end of June, following a report on "progress" on decommissioning by Gen John de Chastelain.
It was understood that eight members of the UUP Assembly party said they could not accept the proposals, despite Mr Trim ble's insistence that the "progress" reported by Gen de Chastelain would mean "actual decommissioning" was under way.
The Taoiseach said revelations on RTE's Late Late Show by the journalist Terry Keane about her 27-year relationship with Mr Charles Haughey were a matter for themselves, with no political implications. The Fianna Fail TD and European election candidate Mr Ben Briscoe criticised Ms Keane for causing "hurt that was unnecessary and beyond description" to the Haughey family.
Monday
The Ulster Unionist Party issued a blunt warning that it would not change its position on decommissioning before, during or after next month's European election. Mr Trimble challenged Mr Blair to state whether, in the British government's view, devolution could proceed without the start of "actual decommissioning".
Forty-two candidates declared for the European election on June 11th. Fianna Fail has eight candidates, Fine Gael seven, Labour five, Sinn Fein and the Natural Law Party four each and the Greens three. For the first time there will be no PD candidate.
The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, announced that a Taiwanese company, Hon Hai Precision, planned to create two industrial projects in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, which are expected to create 500 new jobs over four years. The company is one of the largest producers of enclosures for the PC industry.
Tuesday
The Ulster Unionist Party leader, Mr David Trimble, reiterated his party's position on IRA decommissioning as the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, called the North's party leaders back to Downing Street. The Prime Minister was hoping to resolve the impasse which now threatens the Belfast Agreement. After the one-hour meeting, UUP party sources indicated that Mr Trimble would propose that potential ministers in an executive would be "identified", though not "nominated".
At the Church of Ireland General Synod in Dublin, the rector of Drumcree, the Rev John Pickering, voted against each of the three motions which arose from the Drumcree crisis. The issue of whether Portadown Orangemen will be invited to attend the July 4th service at the Drumcree church will now be a matter for Mr Pickering and his select vestry.
The Government postponed making a decision on tendering out to competition the delivery of social welfare payments. These are now administered by the State's post-offices. The decision runs counter to the legal advice of the Attorney General.
Wednesday
The governor of the Central bank, Mr Maurice O'Connell, warned that existing interest-rate levels would remain in place for some time. He delivered his warning in an effort to temper expectations of further rates cuts. He also warned that a "slow-down" cannot be far off.
An Environmental Protection Agency report on Irish rivers, lakes and coastal waters showed further evidence of a decline in freshwater quality. A third of rivers were classified as polluted.
The Government said it was seeking further legal advice on whether it was obliged to tender out the contract for the delivery of social welfare payments. Fianna Fail's partners in Government, the PDs, joined the opposition in its criticism as reports claimed the removal of the monopoly from An Post would threaten the viability of hundreds of rural post-offices.
The former managing director of Bewley's cafes, Mr Victor Bewley, died in Dublin aged 87.
Thursday
The Supreme Court judged that part of the Aliens Act was unconstitutional. It means that the State will be unable to deport non-nationals until July at the earliest.
In London, an Irish painting which had not been seen for more than a century sold for 10 times its estimated price. Reverie, by Frank O'Meara, was expected to fetch £50,000.
The Government published an information paper on Partnership for Peace. As it did so it repeated its determination to sign up for membership of the NATO-led PfP in the autumn and ruled out a referendum on the issue.
Derry would be developed as the growth hub of the north-west, planners from the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland told a regional planning conference in Dublin.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, told the Dail that army deafness claims had dropped from a monthly average of 609 in 1997 to just under 100 a month this year.