November 9th, 1990: Mary Robinson is elected first woman President of Ireland. Once favourite to win, Fianna Fail candidate Brian Lenihan tells reporters that he was defeated by "an ephemeral rainbow combination ranging from the extreme right to the extreme right" rather than the controversy surrounding the tapes affair.
January 30th, 1992: Charles Haughey announces that he is to resign as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fail over allegations that he knew of tapping of journalists' phones in 1982. Albert Reynolds is elected party leader and Taoiseach on February 11th.
February 17th, 1992: In the X-Case, the family of a 14-year-old rape victim is prevented by a High Court injunction from taking her to England for an abortion. Under great public pressure the Supreme Court later overturns the injunction and decides that she should be allowed to leave the Republic.
May 6th, 1992: The Catholic Press Office announces that Dr Eamonn Casey, the Bishop of Galway, has resigned "for personal reasons". It is revealed that he had a son 17 years previously when he was Bishop of Kerry, the result of an affair with Annie Murphy. He admits to using diocesan funds to pay for their support.
December 15th, 1993: Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and British prime minister John Major issue the Downing Street Declaration. On August 31st, 1994 the IRA declares a ceasefire which lasts until the Canary Wharf bombing in London on February 9th, 1996. The IRA issues another ceasefire statement again on July 19th, 1997.
November 17th, 1994: Taoiseach Albert Reynolds resigns over the controversy surrounding the appointment of Harry Whelehan as president of the High Court. Whelehan also resigns over the delay in the extradition case of paedophile priest, Father Brendan Smyth.
November 24th, 1995: The divorce referendum results in a narrow majority in favour of divorce.
June 26th, 1996: Journalist Veronica Guerin is shot dead at the Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin. Paul Ward is given life imprisonment for her murder on November 29th, 1998.
October 2nd, 1996: Hepatitis C victim Brigid McCole, who took the first test case against the Blood Transfusion Service Board, dies. She is the first to die as a result of receiving contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin from the BTSB. Six days later the BTSB apologises to her family for the illness and distress she suffered, "through its fault".
November 29th, 1996: It is revealed that supermarket tycoon Ben Dunne paid 2087, 820 for an extension to the home of Fine Gael TD Michael Lowry. On July, 9th, 1997 Charles Haughey's counsel admits that he received £1.3 million from Dunne.
October 7th, 1997: Ray Burke resigns as Minister for Foreign Affairs after allegations that he received a payment of £30,000 from Michael Bailey of Bovale Developments. The Flood Tribunal is set up to investigate allegations of corruption relating to planning matters in north Co Dublin.
May 22nd, 1998:
The Belfast Agreement is passed in referendums North and South of the Border. More than 71 per cent vote in favour in the North and 95 per cent in the Republic.
August 6th, 1998: Triple Olympic champion Michelle de Bruin is banned from competition by the international swimming body FINA for four years after she is found guilty of tampering with a drug test.
August 16th, 1998:
Twenty-nine people die and more than 2,050 are injured in a bomb attack on a busy Saturday afternoon in the market town of Omagh, Co Tyrone. The "Real IRA" are responsible for the attack.
October 6th, 1999: The Moriarty Tribunal discovers that of £1.5 million passed through 1983 and 1991 reveals that in 1991 Charvet in Paris received almost £16,000 from Fianna Fail bank account in 1991. It also finds that cheques were paid to John Ellis TD and other cheques went towards the medical expenses of the late Brian Lenihan, TD. The trial of Charles J. Haughey on charges alleging that he obstructed the McCracken Tribunal has been set for March 21st 2000.
