Saturday/Sunday Patients in nine hospitals received a blood product that was later withdrawn because of the risk of infection from CJD, it was confirmed.
Three batches of the blood product, Amerscam Pulmonate 11, manufactured in the UK, were withdrawn after it was discovered that the donor in the UK subsequently developed new-variant CJD. The product is a radiological dye used in lung scans. The Department of Health said it was trying to trace about 270 people.
There was violence and rioting in Derry following an Apprentice Boys parade through the city. The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, called for "rethinking on all sides" to prevent a repeat of the violence.
Thirteen people appeared in court on charges relating to the riots, which led to a number of injuries and considerable damage to city-centre premises. Traders in the city lost an estimated £1 million in sales because of the rioting. The Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney, apologised for the "obvious embarrassment caused to various donors" because files containing the names and details of people who had contributed to the party had gone into the public arena.
The details of donations received between 1987 and 1992 were published in the Sunday Business Post. A £12,000 donation from the Smurfit Group drawn on a Jersey-based offshore bank was among the donations. The Sunday Business Post said the files were found in a skip outside the PDs' headquarters.
Monday
The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, defended his handling of the CJD controversy, but said he should have been informed of the problem immediately rather than a week after it came to light.
Some 268 people who received the blood product are to be briefed. The risk of infection, it was emphasised, was extremely slight.
The Catholic Hierarchy signalled its belief that the President, Mrs McAleese, should not take Communion at a Protestant service again. Following a meeting of the Irish Bishops' Conference they repeated the church's teaching that it is not permissible for a Roman Catholic to take Communion in a Protestant church. The President took Communion at a service at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin earlier this month.
The US President, Mr Bill Clinton, said he was impressed and encouraged by the way the peace talks in Northern Ireland were going. He was speaking after meeting the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in Washington. Mr Clinton said he intended to stay involved in the peace process.
The Irish economy is due for further expansion next year, according to the latest OECD economic outlook. The rate of employment growth will be among the highest in the developed world, it predicted.
Tuesday
The latest attempts to advance the Northern Ireland peace talks ended in failure amid recriminations between the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP. The chairman, Senator George Mitchell, and other senior politicians remained optimistic that progress will be made when the talks resume on January 12th.
Up to 467 patients who received the British blood product which carried the potential risk of infection with CJD will be contacted and counselled, the Minister for Health said.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, said if a Catholic wanted to be truly courteous in attending a Church of Ireland service "you will not engage in the deception that is involved in taking Communion."
Dr Paddy Leahy, the Irish doctor who is said to have been involved in at least 50 cases of euthanasia, has travelled to Thailand, where he said he intends to end his own life. He is suffering from cancer.
The IFA elected a new president, Mr Tom Parlon (44), of Co Offaly. He is the first non-dairy farmer to hold the office.
Wednesday
The Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, described as "regrettable" that something as "sacred as the Eucharist or Holy Communion," should become the source of remarks or speculation which could be divisive. Other senior members of the Church of Ireland were said to be distressed at the tone and content of remarks in the debate over inter-church Communion.
Thursday
The Government has promised it will oppose a legal challenge launched by the former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, against the right of the Moriarty tribunal to investigate his financial affairs and those of his family.
Proceedings against the chairman of the tribunal, Mr Justice Moriarty, the Attorney General and the Clerks of the Dail and Seanad were issued in the names of Mr Haughey, his wife, Maureen, his daughter Eimear, and sisters Ethna and Maureen. The claim is that the tribunal has been established under amended legislation that is in breach of several provisions of the Constitution.