Stormy times for Charlie Haughey and the Roses of Tralee

Saturday/Sunday

Saturday/Sunday

The most important move that could be made to help the peace process would be for Sinn Fein to clarify its position on consent, the former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sean Donlon, said at the Michael Collins commemoration at Beal na mBlath.

A rise in both the level of points necessary for entry to third-level education and in the numbers seeking entry has meant that more young people will be waiting for the second and subsequent rounds for offers of places to universities and colleges.

The chairman of the Pro-Life Campaign, Mr Des Hanafin, said that anti-abortion groups and those that supported "Christian values" were not supporting Dana's presidential nomination bid.

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Monday

The report of the McCracken tribunal was published. Among its findings and recommendations was that it could not accept or believe much of Mr Charles Haughey's evidence and that it was unacceptable for a Taoiseach's lifestyle to be supported by gifts. It said that he had hidden these gifts from the revenue authorities in off-shore accounts. Mr Haughey's attitude towards the tribunal might have breached the law and it recommended that papers on the matter be sent to the DPP.

The report said Mr Michael Lowry had evaded tax and while he was vulnerable to pressure from Dunnes Stores, there was no evidence of political favours granted in return for money. It recommended that candidates for Dail or Seanad elections should produce a certificate showing that their tax affairs were in order.

The Cabinet is to be briefed on a case being brought by some Co Louth residents to the Irish courts seeking the closure of the Thorp nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield. Fianna Fail gave a pre-election promise to fund the case.

Michelle de Bruin was welcomed home at Dublin Airport. She won two gold and two silver medals at the European Swimming Championships in Seville, Spain.

Tuesday

New procedures for dealing with asylum-seekers were introduced under the Refugee Act. The changes will bring Ireland into line with other EU states. Meanwhile, gardai believe that taxis are being used to bring illegal immigrants into the State, bypassing immigration checks on trains and buses from the North.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, urged unionists sceptical about the IRA's intentions to hand over weapons to take a leap of faith and enter talks with Sinn Fein to help create a momentum towards decommissioning.

More people are watching Teilifis na Gaeilge than any other minority channel, including Sky News, Eurosport and MTV.

Wednesday

A senior garda was appointed to review the investigation into the murders of two women psychiatric patients in Dublin earlier this year. The review followed the revelations that a man who is facing other serious charges had given a detailed admission to detectives about the murders.

Part two of the Rose of Tralee contest was postponed because of the impact of high winds on the canvas-covered festival dome.

???E, 820,000 people watched the first half earlier in the week. Sharp differences emerged between the Government and the Opposition as to what the proposed tribunal into politicians' finances should investigate. Fianna Fail favours investigating specific decisions taken by Mr Haughey and Mr Lowry while in office. Democratic Left wants a payment to Mr Ray Burke included. The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said he wanted a tribunal to investigate Mr Haughey's finances and reveal those who had given him money over 25 years.

Thursday

The Cabinet decided to establish a tribunal into possible political impropriety. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, absented himself from the discussion as he has been at the centre of a controversy over a donation made to him by a builder in 1989.

Discussions will take place with the Opposition on the terms of reference. The Cabinet also decided that the tribunal would not examine the Burke donation as this was being investigated by the the Garda.

The French Rose was crowned Rose of Tralee. She is Ms Sinead Lonergan, who is from Co Tipperary, but working in Rennes, France.

Only 224 divorce applications have been made since divorce legislation was implemented in February.