Saturday/Sunday
Senior Ulster Unionist figures said there was no secret deal which would let Sinn Fein into the power-sharing executive without prior decommissioning by the Provisional IRA.
The Dublin Diocesan Communications Office is to review the debate on the speech on contraception and its implications by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, the communications director, Father John Dardis, said following the controversy it generated. Ireland was chosen by the International Labour Organisation as the role model for successful employment strategies in developed economies.
Sisters Bronagh (21) and Karen (18) Mullan from Belfast won the National Song Contest with When You Need Me composed by Bronagh. They will represent the Republic at the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel. Monday
The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, reacted furiously to Dr Mo Mowlam's announcement extending the deadline for the creation of the Northern Ireland executive until Easter week. In Dublin, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, met Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams in Government Buildings.
The Minister for Education, Mr Martin, announced that class sizes in primary schools would be reduced to an average of 30 pupils from September. The £9 million initiative will mean an additional 150 teaching posts.
A consortium has submitted proposals to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Michael Woods, to build a £200 million wind farm on the Kish bank. The consortium consists of the ESB, the UK electricity group PowerGen and Saorgus Energy Ltd.
On International Women's Day, the President, Mrs McAleese, said "skewed, twisted and unhealthy" thinking and teaching about the role of women over generations had left an obstacle course of impediments to their equal treatment. A special debate in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, was among many events to mark the day on both sides of the Border.
Tuesday
Proposals by the Irish Home Builders' Association for a new scheme to make it easier for people on low and middle incomes to buy homes were at an advanced stage, it was reported.
The Government decided to introduce a new package of measures to boost house-building and stabilise the market after considering the latest report on the housing market by Dr Peter Bacon, an economic consultant.
A witness in a forthcoming manslaughter case, Mr Alan Byrne, was shot and wounded as he went to work in Dublin's south inner city. Gardai were examining the possibility that the IRA might have been responsible. Mr Byrne is due to give evidence in the trial of nine men charged with the manslaughter of Josey Dwyer, a heroin addict beaten to death in May 1996 in Dolphin's Barn.
The Dail agreed to ask the Flood tribunal if EU Commissioner Mr Padraig Flynn, was free to respond to the allegation that he received £50,000 intended for Fianna Fail.
Wednesday
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, was in Brussels when agreement was reached for a farm package for Agenda 2000, including new proposals on beef compensation payments.
The Flood tribunal was adjourned until Monday following the delivery of a large amount of new information from Bovale Developments.
Two car thieves killed a security man guarding the Law Library underground car park in Dublin. Mr Pat O'Donnell (51) died when the thieves rammed a heavy gate which fell on him.
Thursday
Attempts by the ESB's management and trade union representatives to resolve a dispute which threatened power supplies continued into the early hours .
In Belfast, the British paratrooper Lee Clegg was cleared of murdering Belfast teenager Karen Reilly during an incident involving a stolen car in west Belfast in September 1990.
Mr Justice Kerr, who upheld Clegg's conviction for attempting to wound Martin Peake with intent, said Clegg had lied in his evidence.
At the Central Criminal Court, Dublin, a jury foreman expressed concern about the jury's security and the judge said he would announce on Monday whether to continue with the trial of Mr Joseph Delaney, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mark Dwyer (21) in December 1996.