This Week They Said

You are not fit to be chairman, unfortunately. And I will say it again and again.

You are not fit to be chairman, unfortunately. And I will say it again and again.

- Mr Denis O'Brien, founder and former chairman of Esat, addressing the chairman of the CI╔ signalling inquiry, Mr Seβn Doherty

(It is) highly unlikely that as a small nuclear country Ireland would be targeted in such a way . . . I beg your pardon, I've got nuclear on the brain now. A small neutral country.

- Minister of State Mr Joe Jacob in a radio interview about the Government's national emergency plan for nuclear accidents

READ MORE

Religion must never be used as a reason for conflict.

- Pope John Paul, speaking in Kazakhstan

The new Jewish crusader campaign is led by the biggest crusader (President George W.) Bush under the banner of the cross.

- Osama bin Laden

The United States wants to burn our country, so we burned their embassy.

- Hafiz Ullah, demonstator in Kabul

Our enemy's friend is our enemy.

- The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair

Money is the lifeblood of terrorist operations. Today, we're asking the world to stop payment.

- Mr Bush, after the US froze the assets of groups linked to bin Laden

If the American forces are in need of the fly-over or landing capacity, that is available in this country.

- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern

We do not believe America is sincere enough to lead an international move against terrorism. America has its hands deep in blood for all the crimes committed by the Zionist regime.

- Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

At least there should be one country who ought to be able to have access to them.

- President Musharraf of Pakistan, which is maintaining diplomatic links with the Taliban

Bush wants us to console him. But if I did I would have no respect for my people.

- The Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, after he accused the US of bombing his country in a "cheap, terrorist-like way"

A window of opportunity comes along every so often. If you miss that window of opportunity, you can sometimes be set back years.

- The Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, as he restored power to the North's institutions after the one-day suspension

In my view, even if progress is achieved on IRA weapons, the institutions will still face collapse because the unionists are not prepared to commit wholeheartedly to them.

- Mr Gerry Adams, the Sinn FΘin leader, on the plan by Mr Trimble to lodge an Assembly motion in the coming weeks seeking to expel Sinn FΘin's ministers

They (the newspapers) were more or less saying we were flukey to be there, the last year or two. So it's sweet.

- Galway midfielder Kevin Walsh, after his team defeated Meath

I'm on a see-food diet. I see food. I eat it.

- Dolly Parton