This week's news in quotes ...
If poetry and the arts do anything, they can fortify your inner life, your inwardness. – Seamus Heaney
The last thing a government should do in the middle of a recession is to cut back on spending. – President Obama
Thousands of students will be facing a reduced service in the classroom while hundreds of fully-qualified teachers may be joining the dole queues. – Tom Collins, Head of Education at NUI Maynooth.
They (the Government) fear existence of an independent, respected profession that tells the truth about the appalling state of our health service. – Dr Ruairí O'Hanlon at the IMO conference
This is painful for me because I love talking and I am by nature an indiscreet person. I kind of think life is about talking, but on this I'm being a saint. – Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan on her refusal to comment on whether she will be the next presenter of the Late Late Show
We (women) don't have a voice in Nigeria. A lot of women and girls die because of this. We all know children, sisters, cousins and friends who have died. – Anonymous Nigerian woman on the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Nigeria
The family is pleased the jury rejected the distortion and trashing of Lana Clarkson's life. Actions have consequences and Phil Spector has to face the consequences of his actions. – Lawyer for the family of Lana Clarkson, the actor murdered by Phil Spector