Quotes OF THE WEEK

‘A prickly man with an authoritarian streak.’ Micheál Martin, Fianna Fáil leader, describing Leo Varadkar

‘I tell them in a funny way. I told them that they might be delighted that there may come a day that Mammy won’t be talking (I talk a lot), that there will be no giving out.’ Emma Mhic Mathúna, cervical cancer patient, on how she has spoken to her five children about her impending death

‘The single market is at the heart of the European project. It is a source of opportunities and prosperity. But it is not, and it should never be, only a big

supermarket.’ Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, rejecting any UK compromise proposal that could damage the EU

‘It’s not a clean business. It would kill me.’ Oprah Winfrey, talking about politics and ending speculation that she might run against Donald Trump for the US presidency in 2020

‘I think for the last penalty, Southgate should have ditched the waistcoat, loosened his tie and said, “Leave this one to me, boys.”’ Paul Jenkins, Twitter user, on England coach Gareth Southgate immediately after England’s victory on penalties against Colombia

‘With the kids off at camp, my wife and I finally have some precious time to check Facebook in separate rooms.’ Conan O’Brien, US comedian ‘Fake news constantly likes to pour over my tweets looking for a mistake.’ President Trump’s tweet, swiftly deleted before he retweeted with ‘pour’ corrected to ‘pore’.