We are staggered by the amount of this loss. This did not occur in the core activities of Allfirst. This occurred in an isolated area by an individual who found a way to crack our internal control system. - Frank Bramble, chief executive of Allfirst, on how the AIB-owned company had been defrauded of $750 million
There's no doubt that confidence in Irish companies has taken an awful knock. We're all going to have to work bloody hard to retrieve the situation.
- An Irish dealer on the impact the AIB fraud will have on Irish business
I apologise that this has happened, but when you think you are slightly more than half-right, you must stand up for what you believe in.
- Liam Lawlor defends himself in the Dail during the debate on a motion calling for his resignation
. . . an institution overrun with land speculators and their bagmen who carried on business with such gusto that it put the Dingle horse fair of my youth to shame.
- Socialist TD Jim Higgins describes Dublin County Council as it was when he was elected to it in 1991
She sought help. I said 'Here I am' . . If George has to go before the authorities in Ireland, he will go with a free and open conscience.
- The Rev George Exoo from West Virginia, who was with Dublin woman Rosemary Toole Gilhooly when she committed suicide but says he did not assist her in the act.
I give him my full blessing. I still feel I owe him.
- Owen Toole, father of the woman who committed suicide, on the Rev Exoo
The right of the unborn is also a right and there are not too many people prepared to stand up for them. I am, whether it's old-fashioned or not, conservative or not.
- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on the abortion referendum
I don't think we can force on unionism an all-Ireland state that doesn't have their assent or consent and doesn't reflect their sense of being comfortable.
- Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, speaking in New York
The alternative to the Palestinian Authority is Palestinian anarchy.
- Gerard Collins, Fianna Fáil MEP and former minister for foreign affairs
Ken Lay obviously had to know that this was a giant pyramid scheme.
- US Republican Senator Peter Fitzgerald on the former head of Enron
You know what? I'm going home.
- A 14-year-old girl who is a key witness in the Damilola Taylor murder trial in London. In the middle of giving evidence, she walked out of the Old Bailey.
I can definitely remember 1977, sitting at a long table in the street, waving flags and eating sweets. Everyone was just jolly. This time, I can't imagine that I or anybody I know would do that.
- Matthew Savage, a 30-year-old Londoner, on the lack of interest generated by Queen Elizabeth's golden jubilee.
I'm just glad it's not in my constituency.
- The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, on the problems facing Gibraltar
I have people who are married in my cabinet. He has homosexuals and they make John marry Joseph and let Mary get married to Rosemary. We are saying they do not know biology, because even dogs and pigs know biology.
- Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe attacks Tony Blair for having homosexuals in the British cabinet
It was really Cathy's idea . . . But I do confess that maybe it was an idea I was hoping deep down she would come up with.
- Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on how his wife convinced him not to retire at the end of the season