As far as democracy is concerned, these folks ain't house-trained yet.
- Mr David Trimble talking about Sinn Fein after last Saturday's UUC vote
It is perfectly obvious we have stretched ourselves remarkably in the circumstances. It is also obvious that there is a limit to how far we can stretch ourselves without an adequate response [from republicans].
- Mr Trimble, minutes after the council's verdict
Politics is a matter of timing . . . These things will emerge in time.
- Mr John Taylor, UUP deputy leader, when asked about his claim that he received concessions on policing from the British government before last Saturday's vote
John's quite right to say that there have been developments. He's also quite right, in my view, not to go beyond that point.
- Mr Trimble, of Mr Taylor's claims
We believe resolutely that the Belfast Agreement will destroy the union, and whatever we do it will be with that end in mind - to do everything possible to bring down the Belfast Agreement and the republican agenda.
- Mr Peter Robinson, DUP
A deal is a deal.
- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, again calling on the IRA to fulfil its promise to open its arms dumps to inspection
I do, yes. He should be convicted.
- The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, asked during a recent interview if she believed Mr Charles Haughey should be jailed following the latest Moriarty allegations
One day they are castigating Mr Haughey and the next day they are acting as cheerleaders for his defence team.
- A spokesman for Ms Harney, on Fine Gael, which had attempted to censure her
Anyone who looked at the record will see I wasn't talking about any proceedings before the courts, nor would I.
- The Tanaiste
It's part of our shared history and should be recognised as such.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Mary Freehill, after Orangemen boycotted her plaque-unveiling ceremony marking the founding of the Orange Order
The warped thinking that suggests almost every asylum-seeker or refugee is something between a criminal and a sponger must be challenged.
- The new head of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, Ms Breda Raggett
Every person and all of their children are aware of what the Irish did. There were Irish martyrs here. Irish blood was spilt on our soil.
- Senior Hizbullah figure in south Lebanon thanking the Irish Battalion. "Martyr" is the highest honour that can be bestowed on the memory of Islamic fighters
When Charles Haughey said in 1980 in what was probably his most famed speech that the country had . . . to live within its means . . . that we had to cut our cloth according to what was available, it's a pity he didn't live by that himself.
- The Taoiseach