19th May: The Minister for Finance announces he has nominated Hugh O'Flaherty for the vice-presidency of the European Investment Bank. Labour leader Ruairi Quinn says he is "flabbergasted" by the decision, which he claims is "contemptuous" of the Dail and the institutions of the EU. A spokesman for Ms Mary Harney confirms she was consulted and raised no objection.
24th May: Ms Harney tells the Progressive Democrats parliamentary party meeting she was wrong not to consult all her TDs and senators before agreeing to the nomination. She was responding to public criticism of the appointment by three party senators. Ms Liz O'Donnell tells the meeting of her annoyance that, alone of the party's four TDs, she did not learn of the nomination in advance.
2nd June: The High Court orders the Minister for Finance not to proceed with the nomination pending judicial review proceedings brought by Mr Denis Riordan, a lecturer in Limerick Institute of Technology. The court rules that Mr Riordan has established "an arguable case" that the Government's method of nominating Mr O'Flaherty was unjust and unconstitutional.
12th June: The High Court rules that the nomination may proceed, but Mr Riordan appeals to the Supreme Court.
20th June: A row between the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste becomes public after Mr Ahern says in a radio interview it would be "helpful" if Mr O'Flaherty explained his role in the Philip Sheedy drink-driving case. As Mr O'Flaherty promises to reflect overnight on the call, Ms Harney is reportedly furious at the Taoiseach's apparent move to distance himself from the nomination, which has since caused Senator Helen Keogh to leave the party.
21st June: Mr O'Flaherty gives interviews to TV3 and Today FM, saying that the Sheedy case had seemed to him "a matter of simple justice". He adds: "With the wisdom of hindsight, I wouldn't have done anything."
30th June: The Government survives a no-confidence motion tabled by Labour, but agrees in the Supreme Court not to take further steps on the appointment pending a ruling on Mr Riordan's appeal. Meanwhile, the EIB says it is prepared to consider other nominations and confirms it is not obliged to accept the Government's nominee.
21st July: The Supreme Court rules against Mr Riordan, allowing the nomination to proceed.
11th August: It emerges that the EIB deferred its decision on the vice-presidency, which was expected to be taken at a meeting on July 25th, saying it needed time to reflect following the "unprecedented" outcry over the Irish nomination. The bank circulated its directors on August 4th, asking them to submit postal votes for the position.
18th August: With a majority of the bank's 25 directors needed to approve Mr O'Flaherty's appointment, only a handful of votes are cast by the 5 p.m. deadline. It emerges that the deadline is not a strict one, however, and the EIB says postal votes arriving this week will be accepted.