Ulster Unionists Jim Nicholson MEP and Tom Elliott MLA have welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister David Cameron that the G8 will hold its 2013 meeting in County Fermanagh, as a tremendous boost for both Northern Ireland and Fermanagh.

The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said;

 “I am obviously pleased that the Prime Minister has chosen Northern Ireland and Fermanagh as the United Kingdom’s venue for the 2013 G8 Meeting.

This is absolutely tremendous news for Northern Ireland as a whole and the County of Fermanagh in particular and I have total confidence that we can deliver on this in June of next year.

Fermanagh is the most westerly part of the United Kingdom and this decision is a very clear public demonstration of our position as an integral part of the United Kingdom.

I am confident that with the world’s media focusing on Fermanagh for the duration of the G8 summit, there will be a major spin-off for local tourism. This will be a welcome boost to the local economy in these straightened economic times and will give us a golden opportunity to showcase the beauty of Fermanagh to a worldwide audience.”     

Speaking in light of Tuesday’s announcement by Prime Minister David Cameron that County Fermanagh will play host to next June’s G8 summit, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said,

“I am delighted that the Prime Minister has confirmed that County Fermanagh will next year play host to the world’s key leaders at the G8 Summit. This gives us the opportunity to put Northern Ireland on the international map once more and underlines the transformation that has taken place in our province, to which the European Union has contributed, notably through the Peace Programmes, which have been an invaluable asset to Northern Ireland since the mid-nineties.

“Along with Londonderry City of Culture and the World Police and Fire Games happening next year, this will be yet another opportunity for Northern Ireland to showcase our hospitality at its finest to an international audience. Northern Ireland may have not hosted an event of this magnitude before but I’m positive that we can rise to the challenge and highlight what Northern Ireland now has to offer in these modern times.”