Saturday/Sunday
"HELLO Dolly, bye bye Daddy," read the headline in this newspaper, heralding the news that a lamb in Scotland was a chip off the old block. "Dolly" had been grown from a cell taken from her mother's udder, and made history as the first cloned mammal.
A confidential consultants' report disclosed that the Chief State Solicitor's office "is seriously under resourced and is not in a position to effectively and efficiently meet the demands placed on it."
A solicitor for families of those killed in the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings said they intended taking the British government to the European Court of Human Rights. Evidence indicates possible involvement by British intelligence.
New figures showed that cot deaths in 1996 were up by 23 per cent (to 45) on the previous year.
Monday
At the first sitting of the tribunal to investigate payments by Mr Ben Dunne to politicians and public servants, separate legal representation was granted to the Fine Gael party and former Minister, Mr Michael Lowry.
A report claimed there is widespread discrimination against Irish people in Britain.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, called for an immediate IRA ceasefire, and said the republican movement should stop blaming the British and face its responsibility to rebuild the peace process.
High winds and heavy rain continued throughout the country.
Tuesday
With new figures indicating inflation is "well under 2 per cent," the Central Bank ruled out a drop in interest rates. It said it remained worried by the growth in borrowing, from banks and building societies.
An indication by the Revenue Commissioners that creches would have to pay 21 per cent VAT was widely criticised.
The Government indicated it planned to introduce a life imprisonment sentence for the offence of piercing a person's skin with a syringe containing infected blood. It is also planned to make stalking an offence.
A survey showed 83 per cent of Irish respondents want closer integration with the EU.
Wednesday
The High Court decided that Mrs Geraldine Gilligan was not liable for the tax bill of £1.6 million served on her by the Criminal Assets Bureau last November. The court found the tax demand should have been served on her husband, Mr John Gilligan, who is awaiting trial in London on drugs trafficking charges.
Staff and students at the private Advanced Technology College at Merrion Square in Dublin were sent home and told it was going into examinership.
The Orange Order rejected Sinn Fein suggestions that the Government send monitors to the North for this year's Drumcree march.
A libel action being taken by the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr De Rossa, against the Sunday Independent newspaper began in the High Court. It arose from an article written by the journalist, Mr Eamon Dunphy, in 1992.
The Working Time Bill, limiting the working week to 48 hours, passed the committee stage in the Dail.
Thursday
Divorce became law in the Republic. There was no "deluge" of applications.
A woman claimed she had had an abortion at a Dublin clinic two years ago.
It was indicated that Mr Ben Dunne will hand over all documents to the tribunal investigating payments to politicians and public servants. This will include the affidavit which gave rise to allegations £1.1 million had been paid to a senior Fianna Fail figure.
The Government supported the construction of a £113 million incinerator in Co Dublin.
In the trial involving the discovery of £47 million worth of cocaine at Cobh last year, a suspect was cleared. Three others had been found not guilty by direction of the judge two weeks ago, and one defendant had pleaded guilty.
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said he was appalled that the body of a youth had been left on waste ground in Tralee, Co Kerry, for 24 hours, awaiting the arrival of the State Pathologist.
Mr Brian Ashton was appointed coach to the Ireland rugby team for six years.
