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| NI Secretary Theresa Villiers defends G8 security cost | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has defended the cost of security for the G8 conference in County Fermanagh. | Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers has defended the cost of security for the G8 conference in County Fermanagh. |
| There have been two arrests, one in Belfast and one in Enniskillen, the venue for the summit. | There have been two arrests, one in Belfast and one in Enniskillen, the venue for the summit. |
| Security has cost at least £50m, but the final bill is expected to be higher by the time the global leaders leave Lough Erne on Tuesday. | Security has cost at least £50m, but the final bill is expected to be higher by the time the global leaders leave Lough Erne on Tuesday. |
| Ms Villiers said: "It is money well spent." | Ms Villiers said: "It is money well spent." |
| Security chiefs said they had not anticipated any significant public disorder. However, there is a threat from dissident Irish republicans opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process. | Security chiefs said they had not anticipated any significant public disorder. However, there is a threat from dissident Irish republicans opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process. |
| 'Catastrophic' consequence | 'Catastrophic' consequence |
| "All the money spent on security has been money well spent. The terrorist threat continues to be severe," Ms Villiers said. | "All the money spent on security has been money well spent. The terrorist threat continues to be severe," Ms Villiers said. |
| "We can all imagine dissident republicans would have loved to have staged an attack when the world's media is in Northern Ireland. | "We can all imagine dissident republicans would have loved to have staged an attack when the world's media is in Northern Ireland. |
| "The fact they have been unable to do that is a tribute to work done by the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) to ensure a safe and secure summit. | "The fact they have been unable to do that is a tribute to work done by the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) to ensure a safe and secure summit. |
| "If that kind of preparation had not been done and a terrorist attack taken place, the impact would have been catastrophic. | "If that kind of preparation had not been done and a terrorist attack taken place, the impact would have been catastrophic. |
| "You have to plan for the worst. Without that excellent preparation we probably would have been seeing more public order issues that we have so far." | "You have to plan for the worst. Without that excellent preparation we probably would have been seeing more public order issues that we have so far." |
| Details of the total security bill would, she said, be published after the summit. | Details of the total security bill would, she said, be published after the summit. |
| "But I am absolutely convinced this summit will generate very significant benefits for Northern Ireland," she said. | "But I am absolutely convinced this summit will generate very significant benefits for Northern Ireland," she said. |
| "It is tremendous to show the world what a beautiful place Northern Ireland is. The backdrop at Lough Erne is absolutely stunning. | "It is tremendous to show the world what a beautiful place Northern Ireland is. The backdrop at Lough Erne is absolutely stunning. |
| "If 99.9% of world's population think of Northern Ireland at all, they probably think of riots in east Belfast and burning cars. It seems to be the only time Northern Ireland is in the news. | "If 99.9% of world's population think of Northern Ireland at all, they probably think of riots in east Belfast and burning cars. It seems to be the only time Northern Ireland is in the news. |
| "Now we have Northern Ireland in the news for a good reason. That is the kind of publicity money can't buy." | "Now we have Northern Ireland in the news for a good reason. That is the kind of publicity money can't buy." |
| Economic advantage | Economic advantage |
| Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said police were in a no-win position over security costs, most of which would be met by the UK government. | Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said police were in a no-win position over security costs, most of which would be met by the UK government. |
| "If they had a lesser level of security and something was to happen, people would be asking: 'Why was there not enough police on the ground and more of an effort made?', he said. | "If they had a lesser level of security and something was to happen, people would be asking: 'Why was there not enough police on the ground and more of an effort made?', he said. |
| "I think they've got it right. It is far better to be over prepared than to have some event occurring and regretting to take those steps. | "I think they've got it right. It is far better to be over prepared than to have some event occurring and regretting to take those steps. |
| "Yes, there is a high cost for a very short period of time but there is a tremendous economic advantage for Northern Ireland." | "Yes, there is a high cost for a very short period of time but there is a tremendous economic advantage for Northern Ireland." |
| Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said there had been a lot of conflict around previous summits. Even though advance G8 teams had to prepare for the worst, he predicted this would be one of the most peaceful ever held. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said there had been a lot of conflict around previous summits. Even though advance G8 teams had to prepare for the worst, he predicted this would be one of the most peaceful ever held. |
| "The worst has not transpired. We are not yet over this, but we are hugely optimistic things will be peaceful," he said. | "The worst has not transpired. We are not yet over this, but we are hugely optimistic things will be peaceful," he said. |
| "How could you pay for this publicity? There are places throughout the world that would dearly love to have the opportunity we have been presented with over these couple of days," he added. | "How could you pay for this publicity? There are places throughout the world that would dearly love to have the opportunity we have been presented with over these couple of days," he added. |