David Andrews
Encyclopedia
David Andrews is a former Irish
Fianna Fáil
politician and barrister
.
Andrews was first elected to Dáil Éireann
in 1965 as a Fianna Fáil deputy for the Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown constituency
. From 1970 to 1973 he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach
with special responsibility as Chief Whip
. Following four years in opposition Jack Lynch
and Fianna Fáil were back in power in 1977, and Andrews was appointed Minister of State
at the Department of Foreign Affairs
. In the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership contest Andrews supported George Colley
, the favoured candidate of the existing leadership. However, Charles Haughey
, in a very close vote, was elected leader and Taoiseach
.
Andrews paid for backing Colley in the leadership bid, being confined to the backbenches
during Haughey's thirteen-year period as leader. During this period he maintained his legal practice and campaigned for the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six
, and Brian Keenan. He remained a vocal critic of Haughey during this period. After the Progressive Democrats
were founded in 1985 Andrews considered joining the new party. In 1992 Albert Reynolds
replaced Haughey as Taoiseach and Andrews was briefly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs
, vacating this position to Dick Spring
, Tánaiste
and Labour Party
leader, after a subsequent election. Andrews was then appointed Minister for Defence and the Marine
. In 1997 subsequent to a general election, Fianna Fáil were back in coalition with the Progressive Democrats
, with Bertie Ahern
as Taoiseach. Andrews was first appointed Minister for Defence, subsequently, after the resignation of Ray Burke becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs.
His period as foreign minister was successful regarding the Northern Ireland
peace talks. In April 1998 the Belfast Agreement
was adopted by the people of the Republic
and Northern Ireland
. In 1999, Ireland
joined the Partnership for Peace
project. Andrews retired as Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2000. He retired from Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election
, his son Barry was elected for the Dún Laoghaire
constituency, his other son David Andrews, Jnr is a comedian who works under the pseudonym of David McSavage
. On retirement from politics, he was appointed Chairman of the insurance company, MGM International.
In May 2000, he was appointed to the non-executive position as Chairman of the Irish Red Cross
Society, serving in that position until 2009.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician and barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
.
Andrews was first elected to Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
in 1965 as a Fianna Fáil deputy for the Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown constituency
Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dún Laoghaire and Rathdown was a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas from 1948 to 1977...
. From 1970 to 1973 he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
The Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, officially styled as the Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Defence with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip, is the Chief Whip of the Government of Ireland and is the most senior Minister of State...
with special responsibility as Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
. Following four years in opposition Jack Lynch
Jack Lynch
John Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
and Fianna Fáil were back in power in 1977, and Andrews was appointed Minister of State
Minister of State (Ireland)
A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....
at the Department of Foreign Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for promoting the interests of Ireland in the European Union and the wider world...
. In the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership contest Andrews supported George Colley
George Colley
George Colley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide number of Cabinet poistions, most notably as Minister for Finance and Tánaiste. He was twice defeated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 1966 and 1979.-Early life:Colley was born in Fairview, on the northside of Dublin...
, the favoured candidate of the existing leadership. However, Charles Haughey
Charles Haughey
Charles James "Charlie" Haughey was Taoiseach of Ireland, serving three terms in office . He was also the fourth leader of Fianna Fáil...
, in a very close vote, was elected leader and Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
.
Andrews paid for backing Colley in the leadership bid, being confined to the backbenches
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
during Haughey's thirteen-year period as leader. During this period he maintained his legal practice and campaigned for the Guildford Four, the Birmingham Six
Birmingham Six
The Birmingham Six were six men—Hugh Callaghan, Patrick Joseph Hill, Gerard Hunter, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker—sentenced to life imprisonment in 1975 in the United Kingdom for the Birmingham pub bombings. Their convictions were declared unsafe and quashed by the Court of...
, and Brian Keenan. He remained a vocal critic of Haughey during this period. After the Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
were founded in 1985 Andrews considered joining the new party. In 1992 Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds , served as Taoiseach of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize...
replaced Haughey as Taoiseach and Andrews was briefly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. Its headquarters are at Iveagh House, on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; "Iveagh House" is often used as a metonym for the department as a whole.The current...
, vacating this position to Dick Spring
Dick Spring
Richard "Dick" Spring is an Irish businessman and former politician. He was first elected as a Labour Party Teachta Dála in 1981 and retained his seat until 2002. He became leader of the Labour Party in 1982, and held this position until 1997...
, Tánaiste
Tánaiste
The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...
and Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
leader, after a subsequent election. Andrews was then appointed Minister for Defence and the Marine
Minister for Defence (Ireland)
The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....
. In 1997 subsequent to a general election, Fianna Fáil were back in coalition with the Progressive Democrats
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
, with Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
as Taoiseach. Andrews was first appointed Minister for Defence, subsequently, after the resignation of Ray Burke becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs.
His period as foreign minister was successful regarding the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
peace talks. In April 1998 the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
was adopted by the people of the Republic
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In 1999, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
joined the Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace
Partnership for Peace is a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union; 22 States are members...
project. Andrews retired as Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2000. He retired from Dáil Éireann at the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
, his son Barry was elected for the Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency, his other son David Andrews, Jnr is a comedian who works under the pseudonym of David McSavage
David McSavage
David McSavage is an Irish comedy writer and performer. He has performed at national and international comedy festivals such as the Kilkenny Comedy Festival, and appeared on Irish television comedy programmes, including The Savage Eye...
. On retirement from politics, he was appointed Chairman of the insurance company, MGM International.
In May 2000, he was appointed to the non-executive position as Chairman of the Irish Red Cross
Irish Red Cross
The Irish Red Cross Society , commonly referred to as the Irish Red Cross , is the National Red Cross Society in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by Nurse Elizabeth O'Herrin either on 1 July or 1 August 1939 on the approach of the Second World War...
Society, serving in that position until 2009.