ANDREWS PREDICTS FF-FG UNION
THREE decades after his prediction of an eventual FF-FG marriage cost him a seat in cabinet, David Andrews has indicated that any agreement between the two parties to form a coalition is likely to be followed by a swift union of the Civil War rivals.
Andrews, the eldest scion of one of Fianna Fáil’s most venerable political dynasties, made his famous prediction when he seconded Micheál Martin’s motion at the FF National Executive to put a vote on the issue of coalition to the party’s members.
The former Dún Laoghaire TD, whose son Barry Andrews also held that seat and is currently the FF MEP for Dublin, is still politically active.
Speaking via Zoom, Mr Andrews, 85, said he looked forward to a new government being formed.
He ruefully added that his rare display of political straight-talking in his prediction from 30 years ago had cost him a cabinet seat at the time.
Mr Andrews is the son of Todd Andrews who fought in the War of Independence and subsequently played key roles in establishing Bord na Móna, CIÉ and RTÉ.
He was initially elected as a TD in 1965 while his radically different brother Niall was elected as a Dáil deputy in 1977.
After a bright start under Jack Lynch, his career stalled during the Charles Haughey era.
By contrast, as part of the Fianna Fáil tradition of warring siblings, his brother Niall was a Haughey acolyte.
After the departure of Haughey the aristocratic TD experienced a late blossoming under FF leaders Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern. After replacing Ray Burke in dramatic circumstances, Mr Andrews played a significant role as Minister for Foreign Affairs in implementing the Good Friday Agreement.
FF sources claimed yesterday: ‘Internally the status of the Andrews dynasty within FF means that Mr Andrews’ comments will carry a great deal more weight on this issue than most.’
Another party source noted: ‘The Andrews family are Fianna Fáil royalty. If there was an Irish House of Lords they would be entered automatically.’
Outside of his original prophecy, Mr Andrews repeated his prediction in 2000 at the Liam Lynch commemoration that: ‘It will be taken as heresy among some of my own party faithful to say that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will return, historically speaking, to where they were before the split.’