"People will go to the polls in one of the most important votes in recent Irish history. The outcome will determine the future direction of our country and I am urging people to go out and vote and to think clearly before making this vital decision." Taoiseach Brian Cowen's eve of referendum rallying call.

"We're in the house of the European Union -- 27 members, 500 million people. We're right in the kitchen and the living room, and that's where the talk goes on, that's where the decisions are made, that's where people go in and out and talk about normal things that happen in any kitchen, in any living room. That's where the cake is baked, that's where it's taken out of the oven and cut up. And you want to know how much is left and when you're going to get your piece. And if we vote Yes on October 2, that's where we stay."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

"It's the nastiest, most deceptive piece of literature every distributed in an Irish referendum. Every page is designed to paint the EU as an organisation which is out to destroy all that the Irish people hold dear. To anyone who receives this publication I say, don't be fooled and don't take anything on its face value. This is a dishonest attempt to promote an extreme anti-EU agenda which would do great damage to Ireland if it succeeds." Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin lashes out at the 12 page anti-Lisbon pamphlet distributed by United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).

"I'm quite happy to debate the issue with Declan Ganley. I keep more jobs in this country than he does, I pay more tax in this country than he does, if he wants to have a debate on how he thinks voting No is going to enhance the Irish economy or job creation, let's have a debate. I think the problem for Declan Ganley is that he wants to be Dana, but he couldn't get enough votes to get elected. I never wanted to be Dana, sadly I can't sing and I'm never going to run for political office so I think I have a more independent voice than some failed politician." Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary.

"You are flying around with the European Commissioner, giving him free chicken dinners on Ryanair, when we know no one gets a free lunch on Ryanair." Declan Ganley taunts Michael O'Leary.

"Joe Higgins has not just misrepresented the charter when he quoted Article 52, he has actually rewritten and falsified it to suit his own purposes. He has completely changed the meaning of Article 52 which simply says that a treaty article, which has a corresponding article in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, means the same thing. This does not mean that the charter is constrained by competition policy in the treaty." Trade unionist Blair Horan takes a cut at MEP Joe Higgins over the charter which deals with workers' rights.

"Blair Horan has also quoted Article 52 incorrectly. He has quoted from the 2000 version of the charter, not the December 2007 version. There were mistakes in the quotes used on both sides." Joe Higgins responds.

"They have been very obnoxious to my staff. The calls seem to have been very organised and not from random voters. I'm very comfortable with the decision I made. I'm worried about the result. I think people are angry at the banking crisis but I think the Yes vote will shade it." Independent TD Finian McGrath explains how his change from the No side to the Yes campaign provoked an angry response from anti-Lisbon campaigners.

"The dirtiest and most unpleasant campaign I have every seen." Artist and No campaigner Robert Ballagh.

(It's) "like that scene in Braveheart with the lads with the sharpened staves and the English heavy cavalry charging . . . at the last minute, you pull up the big 12-foot-long sharpened staves and you impale the bastards on their own argument." Declan Ganley on his decision to return to the No campaign.

"Not a word has been changed, and the so-called assurances given by the EU Council on issues such as abortion, defence and taxation are not legally binding as they are not part of EU law." Niamh Ui Bhrian of anti-Lisbon group, Coir.

"First of all, Coir has sought to abuse the memory of three of our 1916 leaders, Thomas Clarke, Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, by invoking them in aid of their xenophobic campaign. Now, my parents both served in the GPO under those three leaders, and it does not need much imagination to guess what the stance of those men would have been in respect of Coir's current alignment with British Europhobes who are currently seeking to use Irish opponents of the Lisbon Treaty to advance their narrow cause." Former Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald.

"No matter how angry people may feel about the Government, this is a decision we have to make with our heads. It's not a referendum on Fianna Fail; it's a referendum on our relationship with Europe." Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.

"The simple fact is, this is a bad deal for Ireland, it is bad for the economy, bad for workers' rights, bad for farmers and bad for neutrality." Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald.

"One minute, Labour is attacking the Government and the next thing it is lining up behind Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan in a rush to be Europe's Yes men in Ireland.'' Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams criticises the Labour Party's support for Lisbon.

- Compiled by Jerome Reilly

Sunday Independent