Saturday/Sunday
The RUC has warned five people in Northern Ireland they are on a loyalist "hit list" following the murder last week of the alleged Ulster Volunteer Force commander, Mr Richard Jameson. His death has been linked to a long-standing loyalist feud in mid-Ulster involving members of the Loyalist Volunteer Force and the UVF.
The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, questioned the existing institutional arrangements for public transport services and suggested ending CIE's rail monopoly and expanding private competition in the bus sector. She said the State was prepared to provide capital to assist in the start-up of rural transport initiatives.
The top award at the 36th Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS, sponsored by Esat Telecom, went to Thomas Gernon, of Colaiste Ris, Dundalk, Co Louth, for his study on how cities grow, mature and decline.
Canon Billy Wynne, who established the Samaritans in Ireland 30 years ago, died at the age of 80. A popular and unpredictable character, he was one of Ireland's best-known clergymen and a regular contributor to the weekly Thinking Anew column in Saturday's Irish Times.
Monday
The leadership of the national council of the Irish Farmers' Association resigned after issuing a statement that it would comply with an order made by the High Court directing it to cease the week-old blockade of 40 meat plants operated by the Irish Meat Association throughout the State. Earlier the High Court imposed a fine of £500,000 a day on the IFA if it continued the blockade.
The Northern Assembly returned after its Christmas recess and heard Ulster Unionist Party moderate Mr Duncan Shipley-Dalton, who spoke on the DUP motion on paramilitary weapons, warn that his support for devolved administration would be withdrawn if the IRA did not begin decommissioning by the end of this month.
The White Paper on Adult Education, subject to Cabinet approval, ruled out the abolition of fees for adults taking part-time and evening courses. It recommended that companies should fund courses taken by employees and proposed university fees be abolished for social welfare recipients and medical card-holders.
Tuesday
The Flood tribunal began its third year in Dublin Castle hearing the events which surrounded the destruction of Turvey House, a 16th century listed building demolished on the order of Dublin County Council in 1987. A former principal officer with the council's development department, Mr Tom Doherty, said in evidence that George Redmond, the former assistant Dublin city and county manager, had no role in authorising its demolition.
Farmers continued to blockade meat plants despite the IFA decision to abide by the High Court order preventing the picketing. The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, said he would put an increased offer to the IFA and invited representatives of the Irish Meat Association and the IFA into discussions to find a solution.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, speaking at a meeting of the party's front bench in Tullamore, announced the party was to hold selection conventions in at least six constituencies over the coming months as part of its strategy of preparing for the next general election.
Wednesday
The Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, announced the implementation of the report of the Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland in the British House of Commons. In accordance with the Patten report's main recommendations, the title of the Royal Ulster Constabulary is to be dropped in favour of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the numbers serving in the new force are to be reduced and Catholics and Protestants are to be recruited in equal numbers.
Northern Ireland's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, said the decision to scrap the royal title dishonoured the UK government, while the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said the Patten report could deliver a police force that had the loyalty of the entire community.
The Cabinet met in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, for the first time in the State's history, marking, it claims, the economic regeneration of the Border, midlands and western regions. The National Development Plan 2000-2006, which has allocated £13.4 billion investment for the Border counties, midlands as well as Dublin, was discussed with members of the regional assembly.
A booklet published by the Samaritans and the Irish Association of Suicidology recommends media reporting on suicide should avoid explicit details, but not disguise the grim realities. The booklet says suicide should not be presented as a dignified act, or depicted as an act of courage.
Thursday
An Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll shows public approval for the Government has risen nine percentage points despite its difficulties over the Budget and the cattle blockade dispute. The poll also shows a rise in support for Fianna Fail and only minimal gains for the Opposition.
The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine is to write to the Competition Authority requesting a report on its investigation into the meat sector which began in 1997. The authority is to be requested to appear before an Oireachtas committee to explain its failure to take action over alleged price-fixing by beef processors.
The latest inflation figures released by the Central Statistics Office indicate that over the last two months the headline inflation rate had effectively doubled.