This week they said

We want to pay the nurses the entire Labour Court award... but we're not going any further. - Bertie Ahern

We want to pay the nurses the entire Labour Court award . . . but we're not going any further. - Bertie Ahern

The company carried on the trade of unlicensed banking in the State for a period of 20 years or more . . . The affairs of the company were conducted in circumstances which would suggest that they were designed to defraud a creditor of the company, namely the Irish Revenue Commissioners . . . The company and its officers refused to produce any books or documents relating to its Irish operations. - Affidavit of Paul Appleby, Department of Enterprise inspector, on Cement Roadstone Holdings

We will not be making any comment. - Spokesman for the company

Those who perpetrated the level of fraud as seen in the Ansbacher accounts should go to jail. - Peter Cassells, general secretary of the ICTU

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I would have no difficulty with that. - Bertie Ahern

A shattering experience. - George Redmond on what it is like to have the Criminal As- sets Bureau seize documents from your home

£660,000 - The amount of money in cash and investments in Mr Redmond's name in 1988, when his take-home pay was £19,000

I accept it was in the area of inappropriate. - Mr Redmond on his conduct in accepting money from developers

The first feeling is of grief, great and irreplaceable. It is difficult. Right now I am overcome with emotion. - Mikhail Gorbachev on the death of his wife, Raisa

I still see the Belfast Agreement as the best chance for stability in Northern Ireland. - David Trimble

I would not be here if I were convinced that it couldn't be done. I'm still hopeful, notwithstanding the difficulties. - George Mitchell keeping faith with the Belfast Agreement

He's redundant. He should go home. - Ian Paisley responds

He looks young and impressionable but do not be deceived. He has a striking face with sticky-out ears. - East German Stasi spy agency file assessing suitability of Reuters correspondent Martin Nesirky for recruitment

I have been through all the airports of the world and have never been subjected to such an intrusive search. - Diana Ross following her arrest at Heathrow Airport in London after she grabbed a female security guard's breast in retaliation for similar action on herself

As party chairman I had the casting vote. I didn't have the heart to vote for myself against my cat so I put a proposal to the floor - Howling Laud Hope explaining how his cat, Cat Mandu, became joint chairman of Britain's Monster Raving Loony Party in succession to Screaming Lord Sutch