This week they said

Oh Jesus, I hope not. If I did ever get anything from Frank Dunlop it was so small that I can't remember

Oh Jesus, I hope not. If I did ever get anything from Frank Dunlop it was so small that I can't remember. That's not saying that I did. I don't know.

- The Fianna Fail leader on Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, Mrs Betty Coffey, asked had she ever received a donation from lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop

This is not over yet, not by a long shot.

- Mr Tom Gilmartin, the developer who first made allegations about payments to politicians, welcoming Mr Dunlop's evidence

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It is something which I cannot tolerate, which Fine Gael cannot tolerate. Fine Gael will not allow anybody to stay in the party who is somebody who took money in return for a political decision they are making in a public capacity.

- The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, vowing to expel members found taking bribes

A couple of weeks ago, speakers on all sides of the House were very critical of those who sought to criticise the tribunal. I wonder if they would say today that the tribunal is a waste of time and money.

- The Tanaiste, Ms Mary Harney

If you are suggesting to me that any monies out of my account were used for illicit or improper purposes, the answer is an emphatic No.

- Mr Dunlop, the day before he admitted making the payments

Markets rise. Markets fall. That's all part of life.

- German Finance Minister, Mr Hans Eichel, on the global volatility of markets

There is an expectation that I will say to the war veterans, "Get off the land." I will not do that. I will not do that until we actually start redistributing the land.

- Zimbabwe's President, Mr Robert Mugabe

I think Britain should be more vocal, lay open the truth about Zimbabwe . . . lobby other African leaders to put the pressure on Mugabe, turn the screws on him.

- Ian Smith, former Rhodesian leader

I did not think it would come to this. I am extremely sad and sorry for John's family and friends. It was a terrible thing to happen. It is a tragic day for the parish.

- Abbeylara parish priest, Father J.P. Fitzpatrick, who administered the last rites to John Carthy (27), shot dead by gardai following a siege

We certainly didn't want things to end this way. It did, and it's very regrettable.

- Supt John Farrelly of the Garda Press Office

We're so excited to be here. We heard Ireland was very peaceful and that the people were very nice.

- Ms Rossanna Maria Michelena, one of a number of Filipino nurses who is in Ireland to fill vacant posts

Isn't it very obvious they are when 50 per cent of them won't even turn up for the asylum process interview? Any person who wants to call me a racist . . . they're not talking sense or they're not thinking properly, because I'm worried about our own people that are being highly neglected and blackguarded.

- Cllr Michael Healy-Rae, son of the Independent Kerry TD, asked if he stood over his assertion that most asylum-seekers were "freeloaders, blackguards and hoodlums"

Obviously things went wrong in the BTSB in the past and these will come out at the tribunal . . . The evidence will come out also that we have learned the lessons of all these issues and have put in place a safe blood system.

- Mr Martin Hynes, chief executive officer of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service

The IRA has vindicated the Secretary of State's decision [to suspend the Executive] and, through its own stubborn refusal to commit itself to peace by word and deed, has put off the day when Northern Ireland politicians administer Northern Ireland affairs.

- The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, of the IRA's Easter statement

No, I didn't think anybody could read anything positive into that.

- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, of the IRA's statement

I believe it can be done [breaking the deadlock]. It will need patience and it will need courage. When people say that the Good Friday agreement is over, they have got it badly wrong.

- The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair

I've got two children and on their lives Popescu cheated to get a player sent off. It was an absolute joke. I know he didn't touch him. Popescu knows himself. I looked him in the eye and there was not a scratch on him. He should be ashamed of himself.

- Leeds manager, David O'Leary, after Harry Kewell was sent off for a challenge on Gheorge Popescu of Galatasaray