Black Thursday. – Labour's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton on the day the bank bailout figures were released
The need for external financial assistance – although available if required – should not arise. – EU economics commissioner Olli Rehn expresses confidence that Ireland can manage on its own
Toxic Bank Anglo – The slogan on the drum of Joe McNamara's cement truck, which he drove at the gates of Leinster House on Wednesday
Finally, the Government have some concrete plans. – Twitter comment on "Cementgate" by Colm Tóibín
So you get arrested if you crash a truck into the Dáil but not if you crash the entire economy? – Twitter comment by waterychestnut
Bartender, politician or comic? – The choices given by US talk show host Jay Leno to his audience in identifying a picture of Taoiseach Brian Cowen
The deficit of €18.5 billion puts in perspective perhaps, albeit in no way to diminish, the horrendous story that the domestic banking crisis has unveiled to us. – Mr Cowen puts the banking disaster into perspective
The average middle-class first grader had been read to for more than 1,200 hours. There were children in a lot of low-income families who would have been only read to 25 hours in their entire life. Think about that difference in terms of the amount of language experience. – Timothy Shanahan, professor of urban education in Chicago, speaking to the Young Ballymun project
We should not obstruct a Minister going to an event which might have the potential down the line to generate jobs or to generate investment in the country. – Labour's Ruairí Quinn explains why he is willing to offer Mary Coughlan a Dáil pairing for her trip to the US, in spite of Fine Gael's decision not to do so
Labour is always available when Fianna Fáil is in need of a political cuddle. – Fine Gael's Alan Shatter reacts with anger