Deputy Ray Burke's political career was ended by Deputy Bruton and his likes, not by me. I hope . . . he never comes to a similar untimely political end
- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern
His resignation was made almost inevitable in recent days by the poor judgment and vacillation of his own party leader and Taoiseach
- Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton
What memory of Civil War could not eradicate in the party of Cosgrave and Mulcahy has died in the party of Bruton and Owen in resentment at the loss of office.
- Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy
There is a new kind of civil war politics growing up between the two large parties in the House: a civil war of personality politics, a civil war of gutting one another
- Mr Ruairi Quinn (Labour)
Mary Harney's undignified gallop, within the space of a few weeks, from being one of Mr Burke's greatest defenders to the desperate attempts over the weekend to put clear water between her party and the former Minister, represented one of the most spectacular political retreats in recent Irish politics.
- DL leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa