Arlene Foster: Now former First Minister vows to seek better protections for everyone on social media

DUP colleague and Arlene Foster’s closest friend in the Assembly, Peter Weir, said that she is “good banter and good company”.

“I have known Arlene through her days at Queen’s (University), through her days in young unionists, through days as a solicitor, through her days as Environment Minister, ETI Minister, Finance Minister and finally as First Minister,” Mr Weir told the Assembly.

“I can reflect on the many public achievements she is associated with, through the form of local government, to the massive boost she gave to the economy, to taking us through the pandemic, to shattering the glass ceiling and indeed, most recently, taking on and have the guts to take on the internet trolls.

“It’s also the private Arlene who is good company and good banter. I can remember a duet once that involved Arlene and Nelson McCausland when they sang Islands In The Stream, when somehow Nelson started singing the Dolly Parton part.

“I also remember her as part of the many one-to-one private interactions that Arlene gave to people.

“The one thing I associate with Arlene is that of loyalty.

“Loyalty to her friends and family, loyalty to her beloved Fermanagh and South Tyrone, loyalty to the people of Northern Ireland and loyalty to the unionist cause.

“Loyalty sometimes comes at a cost but it is always a price worth paying.”

Stormont’s Justice Minister Naomi Long said she had not always seen eye to eye with Arlene Foster but that had not stopped them working closely together.

The Alliance leader thanked Mrs Foster for leading the Executive during a “particularly challenging” time given the strained relationships between parties.

“I know that it’s often been difficult to make the progress Arlene herself would have wished, but I want to thank her for her hard work over the course of this mandate and in her previous roles and government,” Ms Long said.

“It would be fair to say that we have not always seen eye to eye and have had our fair share of disagreements over the years. Some of them could even be described as heated although I know members will find that hard to believe given that we’re both such shy and retiring characters.

“However we have been able to disagree and to continue to work together to try to deliver the best possible outcomes for those we represent.”

She told the Assembly Mrs Foster had made a “huge personal sacrifice to serve the public” and she wished her and her family all the best as she moves on from her role in the Assembly.