IT’S BEEN A week of Christmas messages, state paper revelations and (if you can cast your mind back all the way to Monday) more twists in the salary top-ups controversy.
Here’s what people have been saying:
Glen Hansard
"Dig in and keep a few people off the street." Frames frontman Glen Hansard encourages the crowd to give generously at his traditional Christmas Eve busking session with Bono in aid of the Simon Community.Source: Laura Hutton/PhotocallValerie Goulding
“As you say, he could be a good mediator as he really is very well in with Mrs. Thatcher and members of the Opposition as well”: A letter from CRC founder Valerie Goulding, released from the State Papers achive under the 30-year rule, revealed Charles Haughey believed Jimmy Savile could have been a good mediatior between the Irish and British Governments. Source: PA/PA Wire/Press Association ImagesRonan O'Gara
"I said it would take a coach with balls to pick me, Deccie.": Ronan O'Gara, speaking about his long-running selection battle with Jonny Sexton, in a clip from a new documentary to be broadcast on RTÉ on Thursday 2 January.Source: PA Archive/Press Association ImagesAlan Kelly
“My point was that those who are on higher incomes don’t consider using public transport to the same degree.” --- Minister for Public Transport Alan Kelly moved to clarify his comments that some people think taking the bus is “something other social classes do” in an interview with TheJournal.ie.Source: PA Archive/Press Association ImagesAlan Shatter
“Both An Garda Síochána and members of the Defence Forces stand ready on alert to provide him with any assistance required to ensure that all his reindeer, including Rudolph, are properly fed and watered.”:Minister for Time, Alan ShatterSource: Barry Cronin/PA Wire/Press Association ImagesJohn McGuinness
“It shows contempt for the whole process of accountability and transparency... It is an attempt, in my opinion, to hide something.”: Public Accounts Committee Chairman John McGuinness was heavily critical of St Vincent's decision to release information about the hospital CEO's salary the night before Christmas Eve. Source: Niall Carson/PA WirePope Francis
"Let us continue to ask the Lord to spare the beloved Syrian people further suffering, and to enable the parties in conflict to put an end to all violence and guarantee access to humanitarian aid": Pope Francis delivers his first Christmas 'urbi et orbi' message from the Vatican.Source: Gregorio Borgia/AP/Press Association ImagesEdward Snowden
"As soon as the journalists were able to work, everything that I had been trying to do was validated. Because, remember, I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself." --- NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden declares 'mission accomplished' in a new interview with the Washington Post.Source: Channel 4/Screengrab
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Related: A pint or two and premier league allowances: The week in quotes
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