Trimble takes on UUP dissidents

Saturday/Sunday

Saturday/Sunday

The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, faced down his critics and defended the Belfast Agreement at the Ulster Unionist Party conference in Enniskillen at the weekend. Anti-agreement dissidents within the party warned the conference against any compromise on Sinn Fein's entry into the executive without prior decommissioning. The conference unanimously passed a motion dismissing the Patten recommendations on the RUC as a threat to security.

Ireland suffered a defeat against Australia in the Rugby World Cup at Lansdowne Road in Dublin. In a messy game played mostly in the Irish half, Ireland were fortunate to hold to the 23-3 final score. Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney won the poetry category in the Irish Times Literature Prizes. Antonia Logue and Lorrie Moore won prizes in the Irish fiction and international fiction categories.

Monday

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The Northern Ireland Secretary of State for the last two-and-a-half years, Dr Mo Mowlam, was replaced in a Cabinet reshuffle by Mr Peter Mandelson. Although thought "too green" in her political leanings, Dr Mowlam insisted she had not been forced out by unionists. Mr Mandelson's name was first suggested for the position last summer by UUP leader Mr David Trimble.

Some 25 members of the Pilgrim House Community based in Co Wexford were deported from the port of Haifa because the Israeli authorities regarded them as a security risk. The group, which includes several handicapped children, were being returned to Greece, although the Israeli embassy admitted the group might have been incorrectly confused with a "doomsday" cult.

The Independent Radio and Television Commission announced new 10-year radio licences for the Dublin area. Three commercial stations, Lite FM, Spin FM and News Talk FM, were awarded licences, which become operational next spring.

Tuesday

After seven weeks of hearing testimony from 142 witnesses, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Mr Jim Mitchell, wound up the Dail inquiry into the DIRT controversy. Mr Mitchell plans to deliver its report before Christmas. It will decide, among other things, if AIB had an agreement with the Revenue Commissioners to write off its DIRT liabilities.

The inquiry was praised for its role in recouping substantial amounts of tax for the Exchequer. The Revenue will continue to audit financial institutions to compile tax demands for unpaid DIRT going back to 1986.

An all-Ireland health conference on meningococcal disease in Dublin Castle was told that the incidence of meningitis and septicaemia in the Republic was five times the European average. However, while the incidence of the disease had increased, the mortality rate had not.

The Diocesan Synods of Dublin and Glendalough heard Archbishop Walton Empey call for the full rigour of the law to be directed against those involved in tax evasion on a massive scale. Ms Justice McGuinness, a judge of the High Court, was appointed chancellor of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough.

Wednesday

Bankruptcy proceedings on a debt of £263,540 initiated by National Irish Bank against Mr John Ellis, a Fianna Fail TD for Sligo-Leitrim, were settled in January 1990 for £20,000, it was revealed. If declared bankrupt, Mr Ellis would have lost his Dail seat and threatened the stability of the Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrat government at that time. Mr Ellis said the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, made representations to NIB on his behalf. The Ellis debt write-off is to be discussed at the Moriarty tribunal.

The Economic and Social Research Institute published its new five-year forecast. The medium-term review predicts that economic growth will gradually slow in the years ahead. By 2005, the level of income per capita in the Republic will equal the EU average.

Poet and Irish translator Michael Hartnett died in Dublin. A member of Aosdana, Hartnett was best known for his collection of poems, A Farewell To English (1975).

Thursday

There were sharp exchanges during a special notice debate in the Dail when the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, indicated there would be no talks with nursing unions in advance of the all-out strike next Tuesday. Meanwhile, health boards have warned that many outpatient services as well as elective surgery admissions will be cancelled from Monday. SIPTU and IMPACT have called on their members employed in the health services to work as normal but stressed they would not carry out any tasks usually done by their nursing colleagues.

Former Taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey made a brief appearance at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges alleging he obstructed the McCracken tribunal. The arraignment has been adjourned for two weeks.

The Wexford Opera Festival kicked off its 48th season. The President, Mrs McAleese, performed the opening ceremony.