Saturday/Sunday
The High Court ruled that custody of a baby girl by the owner of a pregnancy counselling service and his wife was "at all times unlawful". The baby was handed over for adoption this summer to the founder of the service. The baby's mother had sought advice from the founder of the clinic.
Unionist and Conservative politicians described republican "expulsion orders" against four young men from Dungannon and Belfast as a direct snub to the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam. The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said he was in no doubt that the expulsion orders were linked to Dr Mowlam's assertion that the IRA ceasefire was intact, despite recent violence. Two people died and two were missing after a boat capsized off the Louth coast. Four of the party made it to safety.
Some 80,000 fans crowded into the grounds of Slane Castle to hear Britain's former Take That band member, Robbie Williams, in concert. There were 19 arrests.
Enniscorthy was host to about 10,000 amateur musicians as the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann got under way to an estimated crowd of 140,000.
Monday
A Garda criminal investigation into the alleged custody of another baby by the founder and proprietor of the pregnancy advice agency was confirmed. A file is to be sent to the DPP.
A search for the two young people feared drowned off the Louth coast continued. Carlow's new northern relief road and Bill Duggan bridge were opened by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey.
A High Court judge warned the Eastern Health Board that it must find a secure educational facility for a male child prostitute in its custody. The boy absconded when sent to a non-secure facility and had participated in drug-taking and prostitution.
A Co Leitrim priest publicly apologised to Cork athlete Sonia O'Sullivan for remarks about her in a homily on the breakdown of morality in the State. He referred to the fact that she had recently given birth to a daughter and was unmarried.
Tuesday
The Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts started its five-week public hearing on the DIRT inquiry into bogus non-resident accounts. The testimony of up to 117 witnesses is expected to be heard including that of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The Labour Court recommended a £100 million pay package for nurses. The award has been "ring fenced" to prevent knock-on claims from other public service unions. The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, resisted Ulster Unionist demands for a postponement of the review of the Belfast Agreement. He made it clear to Mr Trimble that he supported Dr Mowlam's decision that the IRA ceasefire was still intact.
Wednesday
The Republic of Ireland beat Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road to put them at the top of their European Championship qualifying group.
The Government gave its approval for the publication of a Green Paper on abortion, which will lead to a third referendum. It is expected the Green Paper will be published next week. A Government spokesman stressed that, unlike the referendums in 1983 and 1992, the electorate would be made fully aware of the legislation which would be introduced should the Constitution need to be amended. The Cabinet approved plans to invest up to £60 million in the Voluntary Health Insurance as part of a restructuring plan which will put it on a commercial footing.
The pregnancy counselling service recently criticised by the High Court for its unlawful custody of Baby A was named by The Irish Times as the Aadam's Women's Centre.
Belfast singer Van Morrison became the first person to be inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame in Dublin. U2's Bono and Bob Geldof attended.
Thursday
A senior tax inspector claimed that special low-tax savings accounts were being used to hide money from the Revenue Commissioners. Mr Tony Mac Carthaigh told the ail Committee of Public Accounts that the Revenue Commissioners did not have the power to police properly the number of Special Savings Accounts being held by individuals. He said SSAs provided "the greatest haven for tax evasion today".
A Belfast journalist failed in his attempts to overturn a court order compelling him to hand over notes of an interview with a man now charged with the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Ed Moloney, Northern editor of the Sunday Tribune, now has seven days to comply with the order or face an unlimited fine and/or five years' imprisonment. He said he "could not" hand them over.