Saturday/Sunday
THE end of the IRA ceasefire continued to preoccupy everyone, politicians and non politicians alike.
Following a five hour Cabinet sub committee meeting on Saturday, the Government said it would not talk to Sinn Fein until the IRA ceasefire was restored. The British Prime Minister, Mr Major, also suspended ministerial contacts with Sinn Fein.
On Sunday, the Taoiseach had a telephone conversation with Mr Major about the need to restore the ceasefire.
Dr Donal Murray, the Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, was appointed Bishop of Limerick.
Monday
In a House of Commons debate, Mr Major reiterated his view that elections in Northern Ireland were the way to all party talks, while adding that he was open minded to other routes.
Thousands of people attended a peace rally at the City Hall Belfast.
It emerged that the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, had written to the Ceann Comhairle apologising to members of the House who may feel they were misled" by his statement on the appointment of five advisers to his private office.
Canisters containing a lethal chemical were found off the south and south east coasts.
Tuesday
In the Dail a two day debate (extended to a third later in the week) on the end of the ceasefire began with statements from the party leaders.
Mr Bruton said proximity talks", followed by a broadly acceptable electoral process leading directly to all party negotiations, were being considered by the two governments. He announced that Government officials would meet Sinn Fein leaders. Mr Gerry Adams agreed to such a meeting.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Home, made clear his opposition to the British government's election proposal, and suggested a referendum in both parts of Ireland.
Mr Adams met the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds.
In Washington, the Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, said Sinn Fein would have to meet criteria acceptable to the UUP, including accepting the Mitchell report and convincing the party of the permanence of the ceasefire, before being allowed to participate in all party talks.
One of the victims of the Canary Wharf bomb, Mr Inan Bashir, was buried at a private Muslim ceremony in London
Demonstrations and rallies for peace continued, with over 1,000 people attending a rally in Derry.
It emerged that a woman had telephoned the Garda to say that Ms Josephine Dollard, the Kilkenny woman missing since November, had been taken to Carlow.
A poll published in the Wexford People found that 47 per cent of people questioned in the area wanted their bishop, Dr Brendan Comiskey, to resign 55 per cent had no confidence in him and 72 per cent felt he handled badly the sex abuse allegations against priests in his diocese.
Wednesday
The British government announced that 500 extra soldiers were being posted to Border counties in Northern Ireland. There was widespread opposition from nationalists to the announcement, but a welcome for it from unionist politicians.
The SDLP and DUP leaders met at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and agreed to meet again next week.
It emerged that the Bishop of Ferns, Dr Comiskey, is expected to return to his diocese next week, after a brief sojourn in England. The chairman of the Ferns Council of Priests admitted it would be "very difficult" for him to regain the trust of parishioners.
It was reported that a woman who received £50,000 compensation from the hepatitis C tribunal has died. The High Court ruled that another woman infected with the disease could not sue the State under an alias.
Thursday
An explosive device was found in a phone box in London's West End after coded warnings were sent to the police.
In an interview with the republican newspaper An Phoblacht a spokesman for the IRA hinted there could be further attacks.
The additional troops arrived in the North.
Fianna Fail called for the former US senator and chairman of the International Body on Decommissioning, Mr George Mitchell, to be appointed as a peace envoy to Northern Ireland.
In an unannounced statement in Irish to the Dail, the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr de Rossa, said he did not intend to mislead the Dail, and was sorry if anyone thought that had been his intention.
The L'Imaginaire Irlandais festival was launched in Paris.