Stormont lauds Sam Foster on return after summer recess

The former Ulster Unionist Assembly Member and Environment Minister died last month and was “a great and honourable colleague” Mr. Elliott told the House.

“Almost all of Sam’s life was dedicated to the community,” he said, explaining that the Enniskillen bomb had a profound effect on Mr. Foster “and indeed, maybe changed some of his views as to how Northern Ireland should move forward”.

Mr. Elliott added: “It was quite good to have a political debate with Sam because there was one thing that I could always say, and I had as many political debates with Sam as maybe most others here: there was never any grudge held the next day, and you were friends again,” he said.

On a personal level, Mr. Elliott recalled that it wasn’t just politics that Mr. Foster enjoyed debating.

“In the Foster household, I can tell you, there were huge debates around football because he was a keen football fan and his sons usually supported a different team.

“I had the pleasure of bringing Sam and company to many matches at Ballinamallard United Football Club, and I am pleased to say that when he told me back in April that he had never owned a club tie, we were able to present him with one,” he smiled.

“I and this House have lost a true friend and colleague,” said Mr. Elliott.

Deputy Speaker Mitchel McLaughlin of Sinn Fein described Mr. Foster as “one of life’s true gentlemen” who he said “had a history of public service rooted in Fermanagh and South Tyrone”.

Mike Nesbitt, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said Mr. Foster “was the embodiment of a decent human being” and a “huge figure in Fermanagh unionism”.

“He may have risen to high office but he never forgot his roots and remained, at heart, a Fermanagh man,” said Mr. Nesbitt.

DUP MLA for Fermanagh-south Tyrone, Maurice Morrow, said Mr. Foster was highly regarded and respected, not only by his colleagues “but by those of us in other parties”.

“We had a respect and regard for Sam Foster, because I always believed that, when Sam Foster spoke, he meant what he said and he said what he meant,” he said.

Sinn Fein’s Alex Maskey told the House: “I would hesitate to call him a political opponent because I always remember that Sam - notwithstanding the fact that he was an Ulster Unionist - worked to try to make the Good Friday Agreement and these institutions work. My recollection is that he always treated each and every one of us with the utmost respect.” SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell described Mr. Foster as a friend and said he spent his life “working for the betterment of others”.

“When he was here with us, he gave the Assembly all his energies and attention. I hope that, today, Sam has his just reward and that he is in a happier place,” he said.

David Ford, the leader of the Alliance Party, said Mr. Foster “was a gentlemen in all his dealings”. “He was straightforward and honest. He was an example of public service that we should all seek to live up to.” Jim Allister, TUV leader, said Mr. Foster was “a very proud son of Fermanagh and as someone who valiantly fought for its interests”, adding: “I know that, in unionism in Fermanagh, he was a towering figure.” Steven Agnew of the Green Party, said: “The thing that strikes me, looking back over his political career, was his commitment to the victims of the Enniskillen bombing and the work that he did in the aftermath of that atrocity. That gave me a sense of the nature of the man’s character.” UKIP’s David McNarry said Mr. Foster “was the master of the short, concise statement”.

“Which, if you were on the receiving end of it, either stood you up or knocked you back”.

“You always knew, after talking to Sam, where you stood. There are many good ‘uns who have come out of Fermanagh, and, in my humble opinion, Sam is right up there with the best of them,” he said.

John Dallat, SDLP, said Mr. Foster was “a man who was not overtaken by the graces of the ministerial car, briefcase and special advisers”.