Tributes have been pouring in following the death this morning of Sam Foster, a former Environment Minister at the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The current Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan paying tribute to Sam, said: “I was saddened by Sam’s passing. Sam was the first Executive Environment Minister. He laid very good foundations which subsequent Ministers have been able to build on. He was also very passionate about road safety, as I am. I pass on my condolences to his family."

Tom Elliott, the UUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, who knew Sam for many years said it was with deep regret that he learned of his death.

Mr. Foster, he said, was a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Minister of the Environment, Councillor, President of Fermanagh Unionist Association, loyal and faithful member of the Ulster Unionist Party and a great colleague and friend.

Sending his sympathy to his wife Dorothy, children Mervyn, Helen and David and to the entire family circle, Mr. Elliott said: "I have been a Party colleague of Sam Foster for over two decades. He was dedicated to his work and you only have to ask anyone who worked in a Department or Agency to acknowledge his craft as a politician and a constituency representative. His same masterly work was evident as one of the Ministers in the newly formed Northern Ireland Executive following the 1998 Belfast Agreement, where he was competent and enthusiastic in that role, during very challenging times and confronted by aggressive opposition.

"Sam was also very active in many other aspects of life including his roles within the education sector, as a Social Worker and made it to the rank of Major within the Ulster Defence Regiment, in what was very difficult times during the troubles, when many of his colleagues and friends were being murdered in the Fermanagh community. He was also caught up in the notorious 1987 Enniskillen Remembrance Day bomb and assisted with the rescue operation."