11 February – Charles Haughey resigned as Taoiseach and was succeeded by Albert Reynolds.
18 February – Albert Reynolds discussed the situation with other party leaders as the High Court prevented a 14-year-old rape victim from going to Britain for an abortion.
23 September – The IRA destroyed the forensic science laboratory in Belfast with a huge bomb.
5 November – The Government lost a confidence motion and the Dáil was dissolved. Two former Taoisigh, Charles Haughey and Garret FitzGerald, announced their retirement from politics.
6 November – A new purple £20 note depicting Daniel O'Connell was issued.
25 November – Three referendums were held on abortion-related issues. The right to abortion-related travel and the right to abortion-related information were supported.
31 December – Unemployment reached record levels: 290,000 people were out of work.