Some of the comments that made up this weeks political, social and sporting life from the Irish Times.
We apologise once again to the victims and to their loved ones for the hurt caused, the damage done, and for failures in pastoral responsibility on our part in the handling of these cases.
- Archbishop Seán Brady, Catholic Primate of All Ireland, apologises to victims of clerical abuse.
The trust which underpins all such national agreements has been breached and is no longer evident from either the Government or the employers.
- SIPTU general secretary Joe O'Flynn says it may be time to abandon national pay agreements.
We must face the reality that we cannot continue to expect that we can deliver the highest quality of cancer services across over 30 acute hospitals.
- The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, says cancer services are being spread too thinly.
A Budget of hope.
- The Taoiseach's assessment of this week's Budget.
I have no doubt that this will concentrate power in Finance and the Taoiseach's , while everybody is split up around the country.
- A senior civil service source on plans to move 10,000 civil servants out of Dublin.
Unless the Government give us something solid to go back to Fifa withthen we will have to look at our options in relation to staging games elsewhere.
- Fran Rooney, FAI chief executive, says the Republic may have to play its home games abroad as Lansdowne Road does not meet Fifa standards.
What is interesting to me is that there is no sense that the political situation which needs resolving is going to lead to a security crisis.
- British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the impasse in the North.
After working all my life to deal with this very grievous matter, people would think I was a real fool to say, having achieved it, 'Goodbye boys, I'm away now'.
- Ian Paisley dismisses suggestions that he is set to resign as DUP leader.
I am not going to be blamed for what that thing in the box has done to me or those children.
- Maxine Carr at the trial of former fiancé Ian Huntley, who is accused of murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. Carr is charged with assisting an offender and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Now my Dad is a laughing stock and known as a stuttering alcoholic.
- Aimee Osbourne (20), eldest Osbourne child who refuses to appear in the family TV show.
I will never say the word 'gay' in school again.
- The line that Marcus McLaurin (7), from Louisiana, had to write over and over after telling a classmate he had two mothers.
[Bush]did it in the worst possible way - without the United Nations, without our allies and without a plan to win the peace.
- John Kerry, Democratic presidential hopeful, announces plans to appease anti-US feeling over Iraq by appointing a special ambassador to the Middle East.