This week they said

It has been an honour for the United States to be involved in the cause of peace in a land that produced the forebears of so …

It has been an honour for the United States to be involved in the cause of peace in a land that produced the forebears of so many of present-day America's citizens.

- President Clinton, in Belfast

Sometimes it takes a big player to remind people of the big picture.

- The Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, of Mr Clinton

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Of course I think the President can help. To expect all the problems to be resolved in one go is, of course, impractical.

- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on Mr Clinton's arrival in the State

Of course it's not President Kennedy but President Clinton who will be visiting Dundalk.

- BBC newsreader Anna Ford, correcting herself amid the excitement of the US President's visit

I think the new president, whoever it may be, will want to have a new team in place and I will support that. - I want to support whatever decisions the new administration takes.

- Mr Clinton, asked about future US involvement in the peace process

We have some plans and we have some friends who have some plans but it is a private thing and beyond that we wouldn't like to say anything.

- Mr Paul Donovan, chief executive of Irish Water Safety, on proposed moves to aid Mr Tony Paget, a homeless man who rescued a Bus Eireann driver from the Liffey, only to return to the streets to sleep in his wet clothes

It's wrong for parents to have to bury one of their children but we'll be doing it for the third time.

- Ms Marie Moore, talking about the sectarian killing of her son, Gary, in Newtownabbey

Clearly the unionists are unhappy with any interference with the RUC. That is their police force. I doubt there is anything President Clinton could say that would deal with that particular issue.

- Mr Mitchell McLaughlin, Sinn Fein

Hour after hour people are pleading with me to come back and help the country. [Israel] is in a terrible state. We can't go on like this.

- Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, hardline predecessor to Mr Ehud Barak, who has resigned

Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear: it is the nation's confidence in the judge as impartial guardian of the rule of law.

- John Paul Stevens, US Supreme Court justice

Our nation must rise above a house divided.

- George W. Bush, US President-elect

I say to president-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancour must now be put aside, and may God Bless his stewardship of this country.

- Vice-President Al Gore

The tenets of our Cuban revolution match the beliefs of John Lennon.

- Francisco Lopez Sacha, head of Cuba's writers' association, on the unveiling of a statue of the Beatle

I just wanted to do my work. But the bishop told me to put my feet up or go and play golf.

- Dublin priest Father Michael Keane, in his first address from the pulpit since his canonical powers were suspended 23 years ago

I have seldom or ever seen an affidavit, or two affidavits to be precise, in such unbelievable chaos. It is unbelievable that anybody could ever produce such a document.

- Flood tribunal chairman Mr Justice Flood, describing documents furnished to the tribunal by Mr Liam Lawlor TD