Tax evasion is wrong. Encouraging others to engage in tax evasion is equally wrong and everybody, I think, is aware of that.
- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, talking about Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn, subsequently expelled from the Fianna Fail parliamentary party
I think we have to balance the situation as well. I mean I'm of the opinion Beverley was in this situation before she came into politics. It was a policy of National Irish Bank at the time, and, you know, I was thinking to myself, when I look back at all the things I did, robbing orchards and robbing the candy store, how far do we have to go back?
- The Minister for Tourism and Sport, Dr McDaid
I now have to consider the Bills that affect the people of Mayo. At the end of the day, Seamus Brennan, who has a very tough job, never takes anybody's vote for granted.
- Ms Cooper-Flynn, speaking after her expulsion
I've never understood the attraction of royalty. They're all a bit bonkers. Think of George III . . . They choose very strange partners. They're not managing the modern world very well.
- Mr Kim Howells, Britain's Consumer Affairs Minister, on the "Sophie tapes" row
The notion that we would apologise for being in international airspace, for example, is not something we can accept.
- Vice-President Dick Cheney, shortly before President Bush expressed sorrow for the death of the Chinese pilot and the land- ing of the US spy plane in China
Any person [except players] caught collecting golf balls on this course will be prosecuted and have their balls removed.
- Notice beside the first tee at Spey Golf Club in Scotland
We have seen in this country how supergrasses in the past have often been unreliable witnesses. We would not want this trial to come out the same.
- Mr Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aiden, died in the Omagh bomb, on reports that MI5 had infiltrated the "Real IRA"
Reflect on what happened to those who have done so in the past.
- Continuity IRA statement referring to anyone contemplating joining the new police force
If he'd have stuck with me he'd have been better than Muhammad Ali . . . but the whole lot has gone to pieces now because he's got beat and Barrera will probably beat him again.
- Brendan Ingle, Prince Naseem Hamed's former trainer, on the featherweight's crushing defeat by Mexico's Antonio Barrera
I was never one who could put my hand on my heart with tears dripping out of either eye, feeling the pain of others.
- Mr John Major, former prime minister of Britain
I am a polite man. I listen but I do not hear.
- Mr Wim Duisenberg, president of the European Central Bank, who is resisting pressure for a cut in interest rates
The action is all the more regrettable because of the damage which it is doing to the airline at a time when they're under pressure because of foot-and-mouth and because of other issues.
- The Taoiseach, speaking before Thursday's planned Aer Lingus strike was called off
We are not going to announce every time we are going to respond . . . But you can rest assured that to this kind of flagrant escalation in the shooting and fighting we will find the proper response to stop it and there will be no immunity.
- Mr Raanan Gissin, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, after missile strikes on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the shelling of Jewish settlements
I don't think he will cut back on his flowers.
- Elton John's manager, after the singer's loss of a negligence claim over tour costs