It's the kind of night where you could wind up with a puck in the gob. I haven't seen the place this tense since the days of the Haughey heaves. - An unnamed Opposition TD, after Ray Burke's resignation from the Government and the Dail

On a personal level, I have a duty to protect my wife and family. - Mr Burke in his resignation statement

Deputy Ray Burke's political career was ended by Deputy [John] Bruton and his likes, not by me. I hope . . . he never comes to a similar untimely political end. - The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern

Mr Burke's sacrifice of himself and of his career does not detract in any way from the Taoiseach's knowledge of and responsibility for events which have led to this day. - Mr Bruton

Have you no sense of decency? God save us from the Blueshirts. - Michael Woods (FF) to Mr Bruton in the Dail

I think we have lost out because if the circumstances had been right he did have the capacity to deliver a lasting political settlement because of the negotiating skills I saw him display over the past number of weeks. - The Tanaiste, Mary Harney

I like Italy, France and Spain. But they're different from us. They eat horses. - Piers Nors, a delegate to the British Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool this week

I am not one who has ever believed that a woman's looks are the most important thing about her. - Tory MP Ann Widdecombe

The first act of a new Tory government will be to ban baseball caps. - Conservative Party chair- man Lord Parkinson in a humorous reference to party leader William Hague's now infamous cap

I'm going to reinvigorate this party and I'm not going to be derailed from it by criticism from armchair generals. - William Hague

Ah, the man who's split up the Spice Girls. - A man in Drogheda town centre welcoming presidential candidate Derek Nally

I am very proud to be a Roman Catholic. I am not going to keep my head down. The Penal Days are over. - Presidential candidate Dana [Rosemary Scallon]

I am honoured to find myself on an awards list which includes such fine writers, in particular William Gass, whose work . . . I have long admired. - The novelist John Banville, who is among the six recipients of this year's Lannan Literary Awards

Even Margaret Thatcher, when she was minister for education, said that she would often have a refreshing little weep in her room. Men can't have refreshing little weeps. The whole edifice is likely to crumble if you do. - The writer Martin Amis

Sinn Fein is not going to the negotiating table to strengthen the Union. We are going to smash the Union. - The Sinn Fein chief negotiator, Martin McGuinness

The only solution for dealing with the IRA is to kill 600 people in one night. Let the UN and Bill Clinton and everyone else make a scene, and it's over for 20 years. - Tory MP Alan Clark

Step by step unionists are being conditioned to become accustomed to "Irishness" rather than "Britishness" to prepare them for their intended destination. - The deputy leader of the DUP, Peter Robinson

I sometimes sense that the world is changing almost too fast for its inhabitants, at least for us older ones. - Queen Elizabeth