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Mahon

24 major events that have changed our world in the time it took Mahon to conclude

From the Good Friday Agreement to 9/11 and iPods, here are just some of the events we’ve seen in the past 15 years.
8.00pm, 22 Mar 2012
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A LOT HAS CHANGED since the establishment of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments in 1997.

Ireland has gone through two Taoisigh (Ahern and Cowen) and a third presidential term is underway since the Tribunal began its work.

We’ve seen the Good Friday Agreement, the 9/11 attacks America’s subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the introduction – and proliferation – of social media sites.

In the week that the Tribunal was formally established in November 1997, the top grossing film in the US was I know What You Did Last Summer, while in Ireland the top single was Aqua’s ‘Barbie Girl’.

Here are some of the events that have occurred in the time it took the Planning Tribunal to collect, compile and release its findings:

24 major events that have changed our world in the time it took Mahon to conclude
1 / 24

  • 2001

    The 9/11 terror attacks are mounted in the US. (AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong/PA File)

  • 1999

    The euro is established. (Barry Batchelor/PA Images)

  • Social Media

    Facebook was launched in February 2004, Twitter launched in July 2006, and Skype first came on the scene in 2003. (The Canadian Press Images/Steve White/PA Images)

  • 1998

    Google is incorporated as a company. (Julien Behal/PA)

  • 1999

    In 1999, Pat Kenny takes over from Gay Byrne as host of The Late Late Show. Ryan Tubridy takes over the show in 2009. (Julien Behal /PA Wire)

  • 2008

    The US elects its first black president, Barack Obama. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, PA File)

  • 2011

    Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland. (Maxwells/PA Wire)

  • 2011

    President Barack Obama visits Ireland in May. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapaki/PA Images)

  • 1998

    Robbie Keane debuts for the Republic of Ireland soccer team, later becoming the team's record goal-scorer. (Julien Behal/PA Wire)

  • 2011

    Former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is killed in Pakistan during a raid by US Navy SEALs on his compound. (AP Photo/PA Images)

  • 2001

    The US invades Afghanistan with support from allies including the UK. (AP Photo/Hoshang Hashimi/PA Images)

  • 2003

    NASA's space shuttle Columbia explodes during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board. (AP Photo/Dr Scott Lieberman/PA File)

  • 2011

    Arab Spring uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East see leaders in Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and Egypt. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed/PA File)

  • 2003

    The US invades Iraq. Combat troops are withdrawn seven years later. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris/PA File)

  • 2006

    Saddam Hussein is put on trial after being found hiding in an underground bunker and is executed by hanging in December 2006. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic/PA File)

  • 2012

    Rory McIlroy becomes the world's number one golfer. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee/PA Images)

  • 2008

    Bertie Ahern steps down in May amid controversy over his Mahon Tribunal evidence and is succeeded by Brian Cowen. Cowen resigns as FF party leader in early 2011 but stays on as Taoiseach until #GE11 election sees a Fine Gael-Labour coalition in government. (Julien Behal/ PA Wire)

  • 2010

    Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest after seven years. (AP Photo/PA)

  • 2010

    The Irish government reaches a loan agreement/bailout deal with the ECB, European Commission and the IMF. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison/PA)

  • 2001

    Apple launches the first iPod. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson/PA)

  • 1997

    President McAleese takes office in November 1998 and serves two terms. Michael D Higgins is elected to the presidency in October 2011. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)

  • 1999

    The end of 1999 is marked with widespread fears over the 'Millenium Bug'. (Alan Mothner/AP/PA)

  • 1998

    The groundbreaking Good Friday Agreement is signed in Belfast in April 1998. (Paul Faith/PA)

  • 2011

    Basque separatist armed group ETA announces a ceasefire in October. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos/PA Images)
  • The 9/11 terror attacks are mounted in the US. (AP Photo/Chao Soi Cheong/PA File)
  • The euro is established. (Barry Batchelor/PA Images)
  • Facebook was launched in February 2004, Twitter launched in July 2006, and Skype first came on the scene in 2003. (The Canadian Press Images/Steve White/PA Images)
  • Google is incorporated as a company. (Julien Behal/PA)
  • In 1999, Pat Kenny takes over from Gay Byrne as host of The Late Late Show. Ryan Tubridy takes over the show in 2009. (Julien Behal /PA Wire)
  • The US elects its first black president, Barack Obama. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, PA File)
  • Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland. (Maxwells/PA Wire)
  • President Barack Obama visits Ireland in May. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapaki/PA Images)
  • Robbie Keane debuts for the Republic of Ireland soccer team, later becoming the team's record goal-scorer. (Julien Behal/PA Wire)
  • Former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is killed in Pakistan during a raid by US Navy SEALs on his compound. (AP Photo/PA Images)
  • The US invades Afghanistan with support from allies including the UK. (AP Photo/Hoshang Hashimi/PA Images)
  • NASA's space shuttle Columbia explodes during its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board. (AP Photo/Dr Scott Lieberman/PA File)
  • Arab Spring uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East see leaders in Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and Egypt. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed/PA File)
  • The US invades Iraq. Combat troops are withdrawn seven years later. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris/PA File)
  • Saddam Hussein is put on trial after being found hiding in an underground bunker and is executed by hanging in December 2006. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic/PA File)
  • Rory McIlroy becomes the world's number one golfer. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee/PA Images)
  • Bertie Ahern steps down in May amid controversy over his Mahon Tribunal evidence and is succeeded by Brian Cowen. Cowen resigns as FF party leader in early 2011 but stays on as Taoiseach until #GE11 election sees a Fine Gael-Labour coalition in government. (Julien Behal/ PA Wire)
  • Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest after seven years. (AP Photo/PA)
  • The Irish government reaches a loan agreement/bailout deal with the ECB, European Commission and the IMF. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison/PA)
  • Apple launches the first iPod. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson/PA)
  • President McAleese takes office in November 1998 and serves two terms. Michael D Higgins is elected to the presidency in October 2011. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • The end of 1999 is marked with widespread fears over the 'Millenium Bug'. (Alan Mothner/AP/PA)
  • The groundbreaking Good Friday Agreement is signed in Belfast in April 1998. (Paul Faith/PA)
  • Basque separatist armed group ETA announces a ceasefire in October. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos/PA Images)

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