Arrogance claims are political 'smears': Foster

Describing the furore around her handling of Stormont's Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme as the "most frustrating period" of her political career, she said she had "no doubt" she would be vindicated by the forthcoming public inquiry into the affair.

She also countered portrayals of her as someone unable to admit mistakes or acknowledge weaknesses.

"Everybody has weakness, we are all human beings, of course we all have weakness," she said.

Asked to list her own weaknesses, the DUP leader said she was "very driven".

"I am very passionate sometimes, because you drive on and you want to make things happen," she said.

"It is hugely frustrating that we find ourselves in this place at the moment and the frustration is great with me at the moment because of what has happened."

She added: "I have been the recipient of a lot of attacks since December, a lot of it has been from other political parties, for their own political agendas.

"I am big enough to understand that's politics. Particularly in Northern Ireland, it can be very nasty, it can be very difficult, but I think people will make up their own judgments.

"It's very easy to throw around smears and allegations and talk about other people's characters.

"My goodness I could talk about everybody else's character. Where would that get us - that wouldn't get us anywhere.

"This election is not about me, despite the fact that people want to make it about me.

"This election is about the future direction of Northern Ireland."

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Mrs Foster stood by DUP election claims on the RHI, such as the much-discussed party fact sheet that insisted she had already been "vindicated", and a future overspend would be avoided.

But she declined to be drawn on other aspects of the controversy, such as the role of DUP party advisers. She said those issues would be dealt with by the public inquiry.

In the midst of the RHI furore, Mrs Foster accused some of her critics of being driven more by misogyny than concern for Stormont's finances.

Since the election her party has characterised Sinn Fein's new Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill as a "puppet" of Gerry Adams.

She rejected any suggestion that was evidence of the very misogynistic approach she herself had denounced.

"I don't know how you could say that for a second," she said.

"Michelle O'Neill said she was hand-picked by Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, and Gerry Adams has appeared at all of her events.

"It's out of her own mouth, it's not as if there was an election and she put herself forward, she was picked as Martin McGuinness's successor and therefore Gerry Adams still is very much in control of the party as party president.

"I don't think there is any doubt about that."