QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“No bed should be closed because people are on leave. The emergency department and medical consultants should be there. The surgeons can take their holidays during that period because operations get cancelled anyway. So it’s a question of meeting peak demand with peak resources. That’s the norm across industries. It’s the norm across services. It should be the norm in the health service as well.” Taoiseach Leo Varadkar doubles down on his demand for health chiefs to rework their rosters amid fears that the country is on the verge of its worst ever trolley crisis.
“He pushed boundaries from a place of deep knowledge and respect for the tradition, exploring ways to express the intricacies of the art form in both language and performance.” Statement from the Irish Traditional Music Archive on the magic of Micheal O Suilleabhain’s work.
“If you look into your heart and body and you find you are carrying this talent and you have the passion to go with it, you have to follow your heart, your instinct.” Last year, Micheal O Suilleabhain talked about what aspiring musicians had to do to be heard.
“They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted... We will remember them.” The message left by British PM Theresa May on the resting place at Mons of Private George Ellison of the Royal Irish Lancers, who died on the Western Front — the last British and Irish soldier to be killed in World War I.
“It has become increasingly clear to me that the Withdrawal Agreement, which is being finalised in Brussels and Whitehall even as I write, will be a terrible mistake.” Ex-Transport Minister Jo Johnson, brother of Boris, on his resignation from the British Government over Brexit.
“Our addiction to the motor vehicle has made our cities traffic sewers, made us asthmatic, fat and angry, and made our planet suffer. We should not be celebrating a form of transport that kills 1,700 people a year.” Broadcaster Jeremy Vine wants the BBC to rename its Drivetime programme.
“I’m a pretty bad actress when I’m playing anyone but myself.” Comedian Katherine Ryan, who is to play a problematic mother in a new TV series.
“I took the fast lane all of my life, I’ve been a bad girl, I’ve been a good wife. I don’t stop to think, when I go in, I go in.” Pop star Cheryl in her comeback song.
“To any of the pundits or talking heads that do not give us proper credit for this great midterm election, just remember two words. FAKE NEWS!” US President Donald Trump.
“I was literally hanging on to one handrail and over my right shoulder was just the rest of the universe. It’s very, very black, very intimidating but really incredible.” Astronaut Tim Peake describes walking on “the furthest edge of the space station”.
“I had no lines, but like film director Alfred Hitchcock in his many cameo appearances, my right eyebrow was over-acting appallingly.” Lord (Michael) Dobbs, creator of House of Cards, who has a cameo role in a new film.