I've a lot of respect for the dogs in the street. They're customers of mine from time to time.
- Albert Reynolds, petfood producer and former Taoiseach, asked during the DIRT inquiry if he accepted even the "dogs in the street" knew about the extent of bogus accounts
The Government wants people prosecuted and to get any revenue lost repaid with interest and penalties. Early publication would damage the process that has already brought us to this stage.
- A Government spokesman responding to Fine Gael's call for the naming of the Ansbacher account-holders
What about the names already out in the public arena? What about their right to due process and to fair procedures?
- Nora Owen (FG), whose sister, Mary Banotti, was among those named in The Irish Times
What has intensified the anger of compliant taxpayers is that this massive evasion was going on when PAYE workers were carrying a particularly crippling and disproportionate share of the tax burden.
- The Labour party leader, Ruairi Quinn, on the "Ansbacher scam"
It has been said that those who are guilty are quaking in their boots. I do not believe that. There is certain mild embarrassment but, as they go to the Horseshoe Bar or Patrick Guilbaud's and sip their vintage wines, they do not appear embarrassed.
- John Gormley, Green Party
I had always understood that we relinquished the capacity to impart justice in the colonies 180 years ago.
- The former prime minister of Spain, Felipe Gonzalez, commenting on the Pinochet extradition case
It is well known that for a huge body of people Christmas and the New Year is an unbearable time. For them, what will the millennium be like?
- The Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev Paul Colton
We call on all republicans to show support for Oglaigh na hEireann. The British haven't gone away, you know, but neither have we.
- Message from five inmates in Maghaberry Prison who are all members of a new dissident republican umbrella group named as above
Ah, lookit, this is the Mecca of the game, you know. It's like reaching the promised land. I'm as happy as I was the first time we did this. You know, to see a group of young lads pick up the mantle and grow together and achieve something, it's marvellous to see.
- Sean Boylan, Meath manager, of Sunday's All-Ireland victory
I do not care who killed her. All I want is to bring her home. She has a right to be buried and a right to a Christian burial. Jo Jo has got to come home.
- Ms Mary Phelan, sister of Jo Jo Dullard, who has been missing since November 1995
It would be unwise to put himself at such risk . . . I think he is at a very real and serious risk . . . of cardiac failure . . . with the likelihood that it probably would be a terminal event if he was not resuscitated in adequate time.
- Dr John Curran, Joseph Murphy snr's medical practitioner, on why Mr Murphy's evidence to the Flood tribunal should not be taken in public
It is far more close to what the church is about than when it was too powerful.
- The Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, on the diminution of the church's influence
You sneering, long-nosed Bolshevik. Why don't you get off our screens? PS Please send me a signed photograph so I can tear it up and burn it.
- Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman offers an example of the sort of fan mail he receives