This week they said

I was busy enjoying myself.

- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on his whereabouts during the screening of the RTE television documentary on Mr Desmond O'Malley on Sunday night

She certainly is, she's enjoying it already, and I'll answer the questions.

- Mr William Hague, Conservative leader, interjecting to answer for his wife, Ffion, after she was asked by a reporter if she was looking forward to the election campaign

I stand before you today with a sense both of humility and of hope.

- Tony Blair, as he called the election

In America it is regarded as a badge of honour to be declared bankrupt a couple of times. Some of the most successful businessmen in the world have been bankrupt one or more times.

- Mr Desmond O'Malley

They have no strategy other than to try to wreak murder and mayhem in order to burst apart the peace process.

- The Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, condemning last Sunday's morning's "Real IRA" bomb in London

I have this day signed and lodged with you a letter resigning as First Minister as from July 1st, 2001. This letter will take effect unless before that date the republican movement keeps the promise it made over a year ago.

- Mr David Trimble

The guy's got a case. You don't send the FBI in to kill women and children. This boy has a sense of justice.

- The writer Gore Vidal, of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh's views on the violent ending of the Waco siege

I heard today to my despair that an Arab baby was hurt . . . I am certainly sorry about this matter.

- The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, on four-month-old Iman Hejjo, a Palestinian girl caught up in Israeli fire who subsequently died

The local fruiterer sells pounds of banana's. The public library has a sign saying CD's. Even Tesco was promising 1000's of products at reduced prices.

- Mr John Richards, founder of the Apostrophe Protection Society, Britain

I am sorry I got you into this mess in the first place.

- Fellow train-robber Bruce Reynolds on meeting Ronnie Biggs in Brazil

The Government is fully aware that if it were to honestly market the Nice Treaty the voters wouldn't buy it.

- Green Party TD Mr Trevor Sargent, launching the party's No campaign

It was great, best, best of all.

- Mr Dennis Tito, on landing in Kazakhstan after a week's holiday in space

I don't know if the Dennis Tito who returns will want . . . the love he had before. I loved the Dennis Tito who went up into space, but it's hard to know what Dennis Tito will be coming home.

- Ms Dawn Abraham, his girlfriend

Let's burn it into our brains that, in our lifetimes, we will extend the reach of this human species on to other planets.

- Daniel Golden, head of NASA