Quotes OF THE WEEK

‘Did you see that, folks? She’s giving me her number one.’ Enda Kenny, talking to reporters after a woman he greeted on the street outside Government Buildings gave him the finger

‘Gerry Adams is a man who has to take his shoes off to help him count to 20.’ Ged Nash, Labour minister, after the Sinn Féin leader gave a highly confused interview in which he tried and failed to explain Sinn Féin’s tax plans

‘Anybody can fumble a figure in an interview.’ Mary Lou McDonald, trying to defend Adams

‘People may feel there is something inappropriate in a woman not standing back, sitting down and doing a little bit of Downton Abbey and the teacups. That’s not me.’ Joan Burton, responding to criticism of her harsh debating style

‘There’s nothing nicer than your jeans zipping up easily.’ Mary Kennedy, Nationwide presenter, on losing 18 pounds over the past year and a half

‘It’s like going to the circus and the ringmaster turns out to be a more interesting sight than the lion.’ Mannix Flynn, independent Dublin Bay South candidate, complaining that Claire Byrne was the highlight of the RTE leaders’ debate on Monday night

‘A person who thinks only about building walls and not building bridges is not Christian.’ Pope Francis, attacking US presidential hopeful Donald Trump over his plans to build a wall along the Mexican border.

‘I think difficult women are attracted to each other. I love having friends who are one quarter lunatic –it makes life more interesting.’ Lena Dunham, actress and writer of TV drama Girls