A selection of quotes from around the globe
Every party would like an overall majority. Jim Higgins (the lone socialist TD) would love an overall majority, but I suppose it's a bit more likely for me."
- The Taoiseach plays coy about Fianna Fáil's chances of winning an overall majority.
"You're living in Bertieland."
- Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan scoffs at Mr Ahern during this week's Prime Time television debate.
"Bad politics can destroy a country - you only have to look at Yugoslavia."
- Labour leader Ruairí Quinn on why he thinks a Fianna Fáil majority government is a bad idea.
"Vote early. Vote Austin"
- Slogan used by Fine Gael election candidate Austin Curry
"I was satisfied from day one that I had moral right on my side. Now, I have legal right."
- Fianna Fáil Dublin Mid West candidate Mr Des Kelly after the High Court upholds his claim that TDs' Dáil privileges should count as election expenses.
"Maybe things had gone a bit easy for us here. We turned up, played well, won, and everybody thinks we're great guys. So maybe this result is what we need to jerk us back into reality."
- Ireland manager Mick McCarthy puts on a brave face as his team loses 2-1 to Nigeria in its final warm up game before the World Cup.
"I don't think anybody could have predicted that these people would take an airplane and slam it into the World Trade Centre, take another one and slam it into the Pentagon."
- President Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice dismisses claims that the White House had forewarning of the September 11th attacks.
"When we look at things that we think would go along with being physically active and fit, like pulse rate and obesity levels, they don't show any relationship with housework."
- British researcher Shah Ebrahim proves housework doesn't carry any health benefits.
"I'm suppressing panic."
- Film director Woody Allen opens the Cannes Film festival.
"He had no control over his body or his actions."
- High Court judge Paul Carney imposes a five year suspended sentence on former soldier John Reilly for the manslaughter of his infant cousin. Reilly successfully pleaded a defence of sane automatism .
"The outcome has created a completely unpredictable, unpredicted and new situation in my country."
- The Netherlands' European Commissioner, Frits Bolkestein predicts the new Dutch coalition government, set to include members of Pim Fortuyn's far right List party will collapse within months.
"The nationalist community have nothing to fear from Johnny Adair. Johnny Adair will be a force for good."
- John White, political spokesman for Johnny Adair, after the UDA leader was released from prison.
"Who should I call in to carry out particular internal investigations. English, Scottish or Welsh police officers, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Canadians?"
- Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne dismisses calls for an independent inquiry into recent controversies involving the force.