QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“It is fair to say that for a lot of people, not just in Cabinet, the proposal to allow for the termination of pregnancies up to 12 weeks went further than many people may have anticipated. Certainly it went further than I would have anticipated a year or two ago. But also having read the committee report I understand the logic behind that, why they came to that decision. But… perhaps for the majority of the public that proposal might go one step too far… but then again perhaps not so, that is the debate we are going to have.” Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on the upcoming abortion referendum.
“For 10 years, this was my secret. It was a secret I was living with, there were five people who would have known the extent of what I was going through. You just get used to living that secret life and putting on a brave face, but I do have a healthy son and I was trying to protect him.” Georgina O’Shea (30) from Cork has opened up about her ordeal of suffering 18 miscarriages in the last 10 years.
“People are going deep into the Amazon rainforest looking for new antibiotics. But I’m a 15-year-old boy who found this down his own back garden. That has got to be amazing.” Simon Meehan, of Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig, who was declared BT Young Scientist and Technologist of the Year at an awards ceremony in Dublin’s RDS last Friday.
“I’m very proud to be Irish. I will continue to fly the flag for Irish artists and for Unicef.” Liam Neeson after being presented by President Michael D Higgins with the Distinguished Service for the Irish Abroad Award at Aras an Uachtarain last Friday.
“Men have been punished summarily, forced out of their jobs, when all they did was touch someone’s knee or try to steal a kiss.” French actress Catherine Deneuve attacking militant feminism.
“Why should the US permit more immigrants from s***hole countries?” Reported remark by US President Donald Trump during an Oval Office discussion on immigration.
“Oprah Winfrey showed what a presidential candidate should talk like, what language, passion and principle they should have, what rhetoric can rouse in people and how important it is to people to feel that and get that encouragement. That’s the voice of a leader.” Meryl Streep, backing the TV star as a future US president.
“You are entitled to your own opinion. Have those until the cows come home. But you are not entitled to your own facts. There are facts that are empirical, that are provable, that are confirmable.” Actor Tom Hanks warning against “delegitimising” the press.
“My wife has often said she went to bed with Winston Churchill but woke up with Gary Oldman.” Actor Gary Oldman recalling that he proposed to his wife, Gisele Schmidt, while dressed in his film role as the wartime leader.