Before we celebrate the full significance of this occasion, let us remember all those thousands who died as a result of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Let us also remember those who still suffer pain and loss.
- David Andrews, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the signing of the Belfast Agreement
People sometimes ask me: "Is George Mitchell really as good as he seems?" And I reply: "Even better."
- Mr Andrews
I think Trimble will be finished before the first half of next year is completed.
- Conor Cruise O'Brien
The primary instinct in the IRA is to avoid a split at all costs. David Trimble's future survival will pale into insignificance beside that reality.
- Niall O'Dowd, Irish Voice, New York
We have to nurture them, care for them and treat them with equality.
- The Northern Ireland Minister of Education, Martin McGuinness, of Ireland's children
The appointment is the political equivalent of child abuse.
- Daily Telegraph, of Mr McGuinness's appointment
It was not a decisive step forward. It was a jump forward to uncertainty.
- Mr McGuinness, of Mr Trimble's February deadline for decommissioning
The IRA will take its own counsel on the implications of this development.
- Senior IRA source, of the deadline
We'll burn that bridge when we come to it.
- Republican, asked about decommissioning
A minister by the back door.
- Peter Robinson, DUP deputy leader, of Seamus Mallon, now reinstated as Deputy First Minister
To the small number of people who might be tempted to use violence to thwart the will of the vast majority of the people of this island: the full resources of the State will be used against you and you will not succeed.
- The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue
The only time kids these days want to get on their knees is when they are giving blow jobs.
- Father John Kerrane, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, in his sermon last Sunday
The sense of community and parish spirit is going. The Minister is now intruding between married couples.
- Michael Noonan, Fine Gael, of the benefits allocated in Budget 2000 for working couples
I would like to join Kevin Myers in the "moment's silence" for the "irreplaceable and tragically moribund" Snaffles. Those were the days.
- Ferdinando Zezza, Italian Ambassador to Ireland