DUP leader Arlene Foster has said relationships between her party and the Irish Government are not very good at the moment and some recent comments have been detrimental to unionist-Fine Gael relationships.

Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, Ms Foster described Leo Varadkar's comments on unionist fears over the Withdrawal Agreement as a "trite definition of unionism" and her birthright to be a British citizen.

At the time, Mr Varadkar said that the Queen would still be on the throne and people could still post letters in red post boxes if the Brexit deal was approved.

Ms Foster said unionism was much more fundamental than just posting letters in a red box.

She said there was a naive and trite understanding of unionist concerns that were being dismissed, and the Taoisech and Tánaiste need to be aware it is not just the DUP that are against the Withdrawal Agreement.

She said there was opposition to the deal ranging from working class loyalists to middle class unionism, to business communities, and they should take that on board.

Ms Foster added that she will work at the relationship again and will see the Taosieach in the near future, but said she needs a partner that tries to understand where unionists are coming from.

On the majority voting arrangements contained in the Withdrawal Agreement, she said it was disingenuous to say after 21 years of the Good Friday Agreement and trying to engage in power-sharing, they are now been told to revert to majority rule on the biggest issue facing the nation for years.

In relation to her own future, Ms Foster said it was not about her, but about standing up and doing what was right for Northern Ireland.

She said she remained very committed to devolution and to finding a solution for Brexit. 

She said there would never be a perfect Brexit deal and added that the main reason she was in politics is to defend and strengthen the union.