Saturday/Sunday
In Belfast, the Ulster Unionist Council voted 58 per cent in favour of endorsing Senator George Mitchell's review of the Belfast Agreement.
The vote cleared the way for the establishment of a Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont, the North-South Council and implementation bodies, a British-Irish Council and a British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference.
Following the vote, the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, said it was now up to the Mr Gerry Adams to deliver decommissioning from the IRA.
The Rev Ian Paisley told his Democratic Unionist Party's annual conference that Mr Trimble's leadership was now in doubt.
Storm-force winds and torrential rain brought flash flooding to the west and caused severe disruption to ferry sailings.
A major sea rescue was activated after an Antiguan-registered vessel developed a 30 degree list in force nine winds and 20 foot waves off the Co Cork coast.
Monday
A major step was taken towards the implementation of the Belfast Agreement with the nomination of Ministers to the new Northern Ireland Executive.
The 10 Ministers are: Mr Reg Empey (UUP), Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment; Mr Mark Durkan (SDLP), Minister of Finance and Personnel; Mr Peter Robinson (DUP), Minister of Regional Development; Mr Martin McGuinness (SF), Minister of Education; Mr Sam Foster (UUP), Minister of the Environment; Mr Sean Farren (SDLP), Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment; Mr Nigel Dodds (DUP), Minister of Social Development; Mr Michael McGimpsey (UUP), Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure; Ms Bairbre de Brun (SF), Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and Ms Brid Rogers (SDLP), Minister Agriculture and Rural Development.
The SDLP's Mr Seamus Mallon was elected Deputy First Minister by a vote of 71 to 28, despite his resignation in July.
The President, Mrs McAleese, began a State visit to Scotland, the first by a head of state since devolution there.
Tuesday
The House of Commons voted 318 to 10 in favour of the Northern Ireland Act, 1998, transferring some legislative and executive powers to Belfast.
The Pro-Life Campaign reiterated its call for a Constitutional referendum to ban abortion.
Government and Garda negotiators agreed a formula to settle the long-running dispute which had been hindering the introduction of the £55 million PULSE computer system. Some 8,000 gardai will ballot next week on the proposals.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Mr Bobby Molloy, announced a new taxi-licensing scheme for Dublin, which he said would double the number of taxis by May 2000. Taxi-drivers reacted angrily saying the reduced price of the licence would wipe out their investments while their wages would be halved.
Wednesday
Direct rule in Northern Ireland ended at midnight after nearly 25 years with the formal devolution of power from Westminster to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Queen Elizabeth signed the devolution order after a special meeting of the Privy Council.
Figures issued for World AIDS Day showed four people were testing positive for HIV each week in the State and that the rate of infection was increasing.
Taxi-drivers at Dublin Airport withdrew their services in protest at the announcement of the new licensing scheme.
The last remaining 22 Provisional IRA prisoners in the Republic are to be transferred from Portlaoise high-security prison to the lower security institution at Castlerea, Co Roscommon, it was announced.
The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, introduced the Budget. He announced tax cuts of almost £1 billion, including tax discrimination in favour of working couples. The Opposition said the Budget favoured the better off. The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes rose by 50p.
The State formally signed up to Partnership for Peace in Brussels. After the ceremony the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, pledged that Ireland would never join NATO.
Thursday
The Northern Ireland Executive held its inaugural meeting at Parliament Buildings, Stormont. The meeting was chaired jointly by the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon.
The Government deleted Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution and made orders setting up the new North-South and British-Irish institutions.
The IRA issued a statement saying it would honour its commitments and said a representative had been appointed to enter discussions with the International Independent Commission on Decommissioning.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, defended the Budget as anger grew among a number of Fianna Fail backbenchers and Independent TDs over the tax measure favouring two-income families.
He said it was a "real contribution to equal status" and challenged critics to prove otherwise.
Some 3,000 Dublin taxi drivers met and established a steering committee to consider proposals to bring to the Minister of State, Mr Bobby Molloy. Union leaders said they would be asking him to reconsider his decision to issue 3,100 taxi licences in the city over the next six months.
