Go on, Ruairi . . .

- Government deputies urging Mr Ruairi Quinn (Labour) to ask a question on the Order of Business after an intervention by his colleague, Mr Brendan Howlin

Who am I to come between friends and pretenders?

- Mr Jim Higgins (FG), who had already been called to speak by the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, as Mr Quinn was getting to his feet

Since I cannot ask you any longer for your vote, can I possibly ask the Taoiseach a question?

- Mr Quinn to Mr Pattison, the Labour deputy for Carlow-Kilkenny, who as Ceann Comhairle cannot vote in the Labour leadership contest We need, as a House, to debate this matter very urgently because of the risk that this [drug] addiction will blight an entire generation of young people.

- The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton

I feel certain that the Taoiseach will want to express his relief at the very good news that our colleague, Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae, has returned to full health . . . I do not know if his regular driver, the Minister for Social Welfare (Mr Dermot Ahern), has been dispatched with fruit and flowers yet.

- Mr Pat Rabbitte (DL)