It's hard for me, you know, living in this beautiful White House, to give you a first-hand assessment. - US president George Bush is asked if he believes Iraq is in a state of civil war.
If that kind of approach to sexual life were to be promoted on a grand scale, the human race would disappear. Imagine what grand changes would occur in mores if the traditional links between men and women were set aside.
- Speaking in Dublin, Polish president Lech Kaczynski suggests widespread homosexuality could lead to the downfall of the human race.
There is widespread disbelief over what is going to happen in Croke Park. The arrogant, war-mongering words of God Save the Queen ringing out over Croke Park is surely pushing the boundaries of tolerance and common sense beyond what is expected in any republic on earth.
- Former Kerry footballer JJ Barrett, who has withdrawn 23 medals belonging to his late father, Joe, from the Croke Park museum in protest at the playing of the British national anthem at the stadium today.
When our English neighbours are made warmly welcome next Saturday in such a splendid stadium in the capital of a mature and sovereign republic, the innocent Croke Park dead of November 21st, 1920, will be honoured, not insulted.
- Historian John A Murphy.
He is just a student, and hasn't committed any crime - he has just published his opinion.
- Gamal Eid, part of the defence team for Egyptian blogger Abedl Kareem Soliman, sentenced to four years in prison for criticising the Cairo government and Islam.
Has the time not come for us to ditch, once and for all, the caricature of the drunken Irish and to consign it to the realm of history along with the slur of the Fighting Irish?
- Catholic Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Seán Brady.
I hate to toot my own horn but that's what I'm good at. I'm good at taking problems that have hung around for a long time with nobody doing anything about it.
- Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is to seek the Republican nomination for president.
Small post offices are gone, corner shops have been decimated and even the church is suffering a shortage of priests. Now the last bastion of rural Ireland where people interact socially is under threat.
- Paul Stevenson of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland as figures show rural pubs are closing at the rate of more than one a day.
How can we be expected to run a business if [ the] Government can change legislation retrospectively which changes this business from a profitable activity to a loss-making one?
- Seán Quinn, chief executive of Quinn Direct. The company is to proceed with its planned takeover of health insurer Bupa's Irish operations despite misgivings over emergency legislation introduced by the Government to close a loophole which could have saved it tens of millions of euro in risk equalisation payments.
They tried to blacken his name by saying his only outlet was drinking and smoking. His memory has been tarnished.
- Marie Carthy, sister of John Carthy, says Garda lawyers sought to tarnish Carthy's reputation at the inquiry into his shooting dead by police marksmen.
I now believe that I cannot allow the recent findings of the Medical Council against me to compromise in any way the reputation of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
- Dr John Murphy steps down as president of the college after being censured by the council for his role in clearing disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary of any wrongdoing in 1998.
Israel's laws and practices in the OPT [ occupied Palestinian territories] certainly resemble aspects of apartheid.
- From a UN report by John Dugard, a South African law professor.
Minnesotans have a right to be sceptical about whether I'm ready for this challenge, and to wonder how seriously I would take the responsibility that I'm asking you to give me.
- Comedian Al Franken, announcing he is running for the US Senate in 2008.