Saturday/Sunday
The race for the Presidency gathered momentum with Fianna Fail sources predicting that the former minister, Ms Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, will soon seek a nomination. Speculation continued about Mr John Hume's intentions.
The tribulations of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, continued, with the offer of limited immunity from prosecution for the man who has made allegations that the Minister received more than £30,000 from building firms. Mr Burke has strenuously denied his allegations.
It emerged that the scheme to provide accommodation to homeless children, some of whom are in trouble with the law, has virtually collapsed. Eastern Health Board records showed that one boy promised accommodation and social services by the High Court was refused a bed 11 times out of the 14 he asked for one, because there was no place available.
In the All-Ireland hurling semifinal Clare beat Kilkenny 1-17 to 1-13. Swimmer Michelle Smith broke the European 200 metres butterfly record in Cork.
Monday
In a letter to TDs, the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, became the first Fianna Fail contender to declare his interest in the Presidency, refusing to allow the possible candidacy of Mr John Hume to deter him.
It emerged that the unimplemented Refugee Act, which provides for a Commissioner for Refugees to consider applications, will be amended by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr O'Donoghue. Passed by the last Dail, its implementation has been held up by legal action by the former minister for justice, Mr Patrick Cooney.
Following the revelation that the Eastern Health Board could not provide beds for homeless children, it was admitted that social workers frequently sent such children to Garda stations for a bed for the night.
The IDA announced the creation of 900 jobs, the bulk of them in Waterford. A report on the economy from Davy Stockbrokers was generally positive, but warned that inflation could reach 4.4 per cent next year.
Overnight lightning storms caused havoc in many parts of the country, with 20,000 homes plunged into darkness, and the Aer Lingus central reservations computer was put out of action.
Tuesday
Another report on the Irish economy, this time from the ESRI, again predicted continued growth, warning only that the Government could "mess it up", especially if it failed to fully honour the tax reform commitments made in Partnership 2000. It did not expect inflation to increase significantly.
The Independent Radio and Television Commission will carry out a review of the independent national radio station, Radio Ireland, following a survey which showed it had attracted only a 1 per cent audience share.
A barman was murdered in Limerick. There was no obvious motive, but some speculation that it was linked to his opposition to the sale of drugs in the pub where he worked.
BBC's Newsnight programme broadcast the first television debate between representatives of Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionist Party. Neither Mr Martin McGuinness nor Mr Ken Maginnis surprised viewers by anything he said, but it was generally agreed that the fact the debate took place was important.
Wednesday
Two IRA prisoners were released from Portlaoise as part of a plan for a number of early releases arising from the renewed IRA ceasefire. In the North, a protest by loyalist prisoners in the Maze Prison was brought to an end. Later the homes of a number of prison officers were attacked.
A Catholic Church report on Relationships and Sexuality Education gives priority to the role of parents, and urges school management boards to use the church's programme on this subject, Children of God.
Rosemary Brown, better known as the former Eurovision star Dana, arrived in Ireland and held a press conference to promote her presidential candidacy.
The US-based executives of the Fruit of the Loom company in Cos Donegal and Derry dismissed three of its Irish executives, raising fears about the future of the company in Ireland.
Thursday
The third major fish kill of the summer, caused by agricultural effluent, wiped out eight miles of the Mulkear river, killing up to 100,000 fish.
The managerial shake-up at the Fruit of the Loom company took another twist when it emerged that Mr Andy McCarter, the brother of the chief executive threatened with redundancy, Mr Willie McCarter, is to take over its Irish operation. The company also moved to reassure workers and the public about its future here. However, in Tralee 150 jobs were threatened by the closure of the Klopman textile company.
Limerick gardai started an investigation into a mortgage brokerage which closed with about £300,000 of clients' money unaccounted for.