QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“We’re reaching a tipping point in respect of climate deterioration. Things will deteriorate very rapidly unless we move very swiftly and the window of opportunity to do that is fast closing.” Minister Richard Bruton, as Ireland became the second country in the world to declare a climate emergency.
“It is essential that in declaring a climate emergency we commit to concrete, real and identifiable action rather than just uniting around vague concepts.” Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin.
“Rolling out a form of technology like this to a million of our citizens who live across the length and breadth of our country is an inherently risky and an inherently complex activity. If it was neither, the private sector would already have delivered this — this would already be happening. So there is risk, there is complexity in all of this... on balance this is the right thing for us to do”. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe on the National Broadband Plan.
“This is definitely a new low. I’m sure there have been thefts from churches before but this is the first time I’ve ever heard of it happening while people went to receive Holy Communion.” Meath crime prevention officer Sergeant Dean Kerins urges Mass-goers to be vigilant with their belongings after a woman had her bag snatched while she went for Holy Communion, and a man had his phone pick-pocketed during the same Mass.
“We are aware that the Garda continues to conduct criminal investigations of its own members without the knowledge or participation of GSOC and we find that troubling.” Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission chairperson Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring warns that the Garda is running the risk of being accused of cover-ups, bias and corruption because it is failing to notify the ombudsman of internal investigations.
“We live in a patriarchal society where age is shamed and, especially in America, we’re obsessed with youth and the beginnings of things because we’re a very juvenile country.” Actress Amy Poehler (47).
“The call to fire me from BBC 5 Live was a masterclass of pompous faux-gravity.” Broadcaster Danny Baker after tweeting a joke about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s newborn son which featured a picture of a chimpanzee.
“An iceberg sank the real Titanic. It took the Avengers to sink my Titanic.” Film director James Cameron congratulates Marvel for surpassing his Titanic box office record with Avengers: Endgame.
“I just like to make people laugh. We’re not talking about brain surgery here or saving people’s lives, we’re talking about laughter, which is one of the greatest medicines in the world and I can give some of that to an audience and that’s great.” Comedian Freddie Starr, who died last week.