Do you think it is conceivable that if the institutions are working, and if the ceasefire is holding, and that the arms are not being used, the whole thing would be collapsed? . . . That would be just lunacy.
- Pat Doherty, Sinn Fein vice-president, asked by the Boston Herald's editorial board about the scenario that sees the proposed executive collapsing if the IRA does not disarm by the end of January
Without decommissioning devolution will not survive, if only because our position would become unsustainable, to which I would add, we would not wish to remain.
- David Trimble
Sinn Fein is not in the business of double-crossing or misleading anyone.
- Mr Doherty, in a statement from Washington
Cherie Blair makes history by becoming pregnant.
- RTE newsreader
The only thing that is giving me sleepless nights is the prospect of more sleepless nights.
- Tony Blair, of the forthcoming addition to the family
Just drop me into one of those plastic bags and leave me by the trash can.
- Renowned gay icon, Quentin Crisp, who has died, asked how he'd like his funeral
We are not out to brain-drain third countries of their best and brightest.
- Spokesman for the Tanaiste, of Government plans to introduce a work visa programme for non-EU countries
This type of thing is bloody inconvenient.
- Simon Nugent, chief executive of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, of Eircom's systems failure last week
Bizarre and unprecedented.
- Eircom spokesman, Gerry O'Sullivan, of the crash
The two accused are entitled to be presumed innocent.
- Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, for the DPP, of Nora Wall and Paul McCabe
This is the end of politics for Jeffrey Archer. He has let the Conservative Party down badly.
- William Hague, Tory leader
I think I felt, even when I married him, that life would turn out to be uncertain, stimulating, fast-moving.
- Mary Archer, wife of Jeffrey
Grossly offensive to the many people who have suffered at the hands of this discredited force.
- Bairbre de Brun, Sinn Fein, of the announcement that the RUC is to be awarded the George Cross for gallantry
People like him shouldn't be in the flipping world. People can say let bygones be bygones, but to hell with that.
- Joe O'Driscoll (56), victim of retired religious brother James Kelly, who was given a 36-year prison sentence for sexual abuse
Lame duck spares live turkey.
- Washington Post headline, of a practice which sees the US president save a turkey from slaughter before Thanksgiving
Can you imagine what it is like trying to raise a family in bed-and-breakfast or hostel accommodation? The cost in human terms - and indeed in economic terms - is appalling.
- Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, who wants £39 million spent annually over five years to tackle homelessness