I'm sorry about a number of things. I'm sorry obviously for the Ryan family. We brought their private, personal tragedy into the public domain. For them it's an issue they will never recover from.
- The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, of the O'Flaherty decision
It just happened. There were a whole lot of people in the room. I was talking to them and I turned around and he was standing there.
- President Clinton, of his historic hand- shake with Cuban President Fidel Castro
I saw people who had parts of their bodies missing. I felt completely helpless. I remember the dreadful smell of burning flesh and blood. Also there was water gushing down the street over the bodies, as a water main had burst.
- RUC Constable Louise Stewart, at the Omagh bombing inquests hearing
This wouldn't be high on his list of priorities at the moment.
- A spokesman for the Taoiseach, asked if Mr Ahern could answer the question "what is a real man?" for a recent survey
It needs to be recognised that there is simply one race - the human race. Government policy on refugees and asylum-seekers should be framed within this context.
- Father Sean Healy, director of the Justice Commission of the Conference of Religious of Ireland
I have no future. My future, my family's future is gone.
- Mr John Barry, the latest haemophiliac to die from an infected blood product, speaking before his death
You may be assured of my personal interest and full commitment to helping move the peace process forward . . . America should be ready, if necessary, to appoint a special envoy to further facilitate the search for lasting peace.
- Republican presidential candidate, Governor George W. Bush, in a letter to the Taoiseach
The attack was designed to kill and injure in an indiscriminate way. It is a deliberate attempt to destabilise political progress by those opposed to democratic devolved government.
- The Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, on the explosion at Armagh police station
I cannot pay high enough tribute to the skill, the professionalism and the courage of the armed forces involved.
- Tony Blair, in a tribute to the men who liberated the six remaining RIR hostages in Sierra Leone
They fought very hard. We did not want to do this, but the clock started turning.
- Sir Charles Guthrie, Chief of the Defence Staff, on the rescue operation
Who has benefited from this company since it floated? Exactly - the boys.
- Senator Shane Ross, speaking at the Eircom annual general meeting
I want to emphasise that if anyone believes that what has been done in this company in the last four or five years is not an incredible achievement, then that's an opinion they're entitled to express.
- Eircom's chief executive, Mr Alfie Kane