I know. I'll have to work on that. - His reported comment in 1987 after a failed leadership challenge, when a backbencher told him that he had an image problem
As far as the leadership of the party is concerned, that issue was overwhelmingly and definitively settled by the parliamentary party just six months ago in a secret ballot. I am the leader of the party and will continue in that capacity. - Speaking in August 1993 after calls for a vote of confidence in his leadership
The Government must go about its work without excess or extravagance and as transparently as if it were working behind a pane of glass. - After his election as Taoiseach in December 1994
It's a pattern of conduct that shows the Taoiseach unfit, not only for the office he holds, but for any senior public office. - Claiming that the Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, was unfit for office following the revelations in the beef tribunal report in 1994
It is important to recognise that in dealing with Sinn Fein/IRA, one is dealing with a revolutionary organisation. - Arguing in 1994 that Sinn Fein's peace strategy was really a strategy for war
I'm sick of answering questions about the f . . . ing peace process. - Mr Bruton quickly apologised for these remarks made to a Cork radio station reporter in 1995
As leader of the Opposition before I became Taoiseach, I made an act of faith when I said I believed in Sinn Fein and that I was willing to believe that the IRA had ended the killing for good. That act of faith has now been thrown back in my face by the IRA. - Speaking in the Dail after the breakdown of the ceasefire in 1996
Even though Sinn Fein has a genuine electoral mandate, I do not regard Sinn Fein as an ordinary political party. - Criticising Mr Gerry Adams's intervention in the 1997 presidential election when Mr Adams said he would vote for Mrs Mary McAleese
Don't be afraid of me. I'm just a big teddy-bear. - Speaking as he advanced on the Sinn Fein delegation at the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation
Currently Sinn Fein is part of a movement which also consists of another element which is the IRA, and the IRA is engaged in a campaign of violence which includes the killing of people to pursue a political objective. Political support for Sinn Fein is support for that campaign . . . It would be hypocrisy to pretend that a vote for Sinn Fein is anything but support for the IRA, because they're part of the one movement. - Controversially encouraging people not to vote for Sinn Fein during the Northern elections in April 1997
There are certain requirements which any individual has to have to be a member of Fine Gael which, at the moment, Michael Lowry could not fulfil. - Ruling out the return of Michael Lowry to Fine Gael after the next general election
That's complete rubbish. - Responding to criticisms of his leadership by Mr Michael Noonan and Mr Jim Mitchell earlier this week Michael Lowry was gone in 24 hours. Twenty-four hours and he was gone. How long did it take Bertie Ahern to deal with Ray Burke? How long did it take Bertie Ahern to deal with Denis Foley? - Defending his record on leadership this week
It would be utterly corrosive of Fine Gael if, on the whim of an opinion poll, on the initiative of two individuals, a decision democratically taken were to be reversed. - Criticising this week's leadership challenge against him