Saturday/Sunday
THE Tanaiste and leader of the Labour Party, Mr Spring, speaking at his party conference in Limerick, ruled out a coalition between his party and Fianna Fail in the event of a hung Dail.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, said he believed the electorate would reject the Government, and the Labour Party in particular, for its "arrogance, hypocrisy and self serving interests".
Security was tightened during a two day visit by the Pope to Sarajevo after the discovery of land mines, plastic explosives and detonators on his motorcade route into the Bosnian capital.
Monday
Mrs Catherine Nevin, the widow of the Co Wicklow publican, Mr Tom Nevin, was arrested and remanded in custody pending trial for murdering her husband and soliciting three men to kill him six years before his death.
The Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, launched the parents information booklet on the Relationships and Sexuality Education Programme which will become part of the school curriculum in September.
Tuesday
Proposals for a new short term licensing scheme to provide multi channel TV on the UHF band was announced by the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Dukes, in an attempt to defuse the television deflector controversy in rural constituencies.
The commission inquiring into the Belgian paedophile scandals published a scathing report on the incompetent handling by the authorities of the disappearance of six girls kidnapped, raped and tortured by Marc Dutroux.
The pound fell to below 95p against sterling, its lowest level in over three years, as sterling strengthened on the international currency markets.
At least 343 Muslim pilgrims died when fire raged through a tent camp outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as two million gathered for the annual pilgrimage.
Wednesday
The Irish Times revealed that the Irish Ambassador to China, Mr Joe Hayes, had been called in by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to be informed of Beijing's displeasure at Ireland's co sponsorship of a Danish UN resolution condemning China's human rights record.
About 700 gardai marched through Dublin city centre to the Dail in the first such protest by members of the force demanding a commission of inquiry into pay.
The future of the Israeli government appeared threatened as police investigators recommended that the Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, be indicted for fraud and breach of trust.
The British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, made a televised plea to the electorate over the head of his bickering party as the Conservative's general election campaign threatened to degenerate into open civil war over Europe.
Thursday
In a complete reversal of its original position, the Blood Transfusion Services Board admitted legal liability in all cases of hepatitis C caused by contaminated blood products.
The Department of Justice asked gardai to increase surveillance at ports to combat illegal entry following a huge rise in the number of asylum seekers in Ireland in recent months, The Irish Times revealed. The increase has led to suspicions that organised groups are smuggling in refugees in return for large fees.
Mr David Murphy, the husband of Mrs Patricia Murphy whose body was found near her home off Griffith Avenue, Dublin, almost a year ago, was charged with her murder.
Three men arrested during a security operation in south Armagh were charged with terrorist offences. One was charged with three murders, including that of Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, in Bessbrook last February.