You're made of tough stuff... and we are so proud of you and so proud of Hilda

President Mary McAleese tells Sharon Commins at a reception for her at Áras an Uachtaráin

The benefits of getting the vaccine far outweigh the risks

Dr Joan Gilvarry, of the Irish Medicines Board, on getting the swine flu vaccine

I was talking to Bernard and Ena last night and they told me they don't want any revenge or retaliation because they don't want any family to go through what they are going through

Fr Brian Lennon at the funeral of Barry Walsh, who was kicked to death in Fairview two weeks ago

In some departments and agencies there is a culture of absenteeism where the system is abused

Labour's social and family affairs spokeswoman Roisin Shortall commenting on the massive variance in absenteeism rates between state and government departments

I am 65 years old and do not anticipate seeing pigs in flight, but I am grateful that I have lasted long enough to witness turkeys voting for Christmas

Senator David Norris on the decision of FG senators to support Enda Kenny's plans for the Seanad

It is a regurgitation of the legacy we thought we had left behind with O'Duffy in the 1930s.

Senator Joe O'Toole on Enda Kenny's plan to abolish the Seanad

The impact of this change on rural Ireland would be devastating, not just on pubs but on people who go out and socialise, do everything right at night by getting a taxi home but then are still over the limit the next morning; 50mg is very low and it would be a killer blow to rural communities.

Backbench Fianna Fail TD Mattie McGrath on transport minister Noel Dempsey's plans to reduce the drink-driving limit

No one is advocating that people should get behind the wheel of a car drunk but there is a very serious issue of isolation in rural Ireland, particularly among elderly men living on their own, that needs to be addressed.

Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan on the same issue

The bankers and the developers are the Irish oligarchs and when they speak to the Department of Finance, the department trembles.

Labour's finance spokeswoman Joan Burton during a Dáil debate on Nama