Niall Andrews

Niall Dermot Andrews (19 August 1937 – 16 October 2006) was an Irish politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Fianna Fáil party.

Andrews was born in Dublin. He was educated at Synge Street CBS and Presentation College, Bray. Andrews came from a very ardent republican family. His father, Todd Andrews, served in the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War for the anti-treaty side. Todd Andrews was also a founder-member of Fianna Fáil in 1926. Niall Andrews's mother, Mary Coyle, was a prominent member of Cumann na mBan.

Andrews initially worked as a journalist for the Irish Press, a newspaper highly aligned with Fianna Fáil. After emigrating to the United States in 1953, Andrews worked in television journalism, served as a US Army stenographer during the Korean War, and met his wife, Bernadette, in New York. Returning to Ireland, he joined RTÉ in 1961 as a presentation officer and later became a programme executive.

Andrews was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1977 general election for the Dublin County South constituency and later for the Dublin South constituency. He held his seat at each subsequent election until he decided not to contest the 1987 general election.

Both Andrews brothers backed George Colley in the 1979 Fianna Fáil leadership election. While David remained a staunch opponent of Charles Haughey and supported the leadership challenges against him in the early 1980s, Niall emerged as one of Haughey's most ardent allies. He believed Haughey was not only more capable than his rivals but also uniquely equipped to address Ireland's pressing economic and social challenges, a view reinforced by Haughey's strong republican stance. Todd Andrews, their father, was similarly an enthusiastic supporter of Haughey.

During a 1983 leadership challenge, Niall Andrews led a pro-Haughey demonstration outside Fianna Fáil headquarters on Mount Street, Dublin, accusing the media of attempting to execute Haughey in a manner akin to the executions of the 1916 leaders. He was photographed near a placard reading "Don't Forget The Crown Of Thorns." These dramatic displays, coupled with his flamboyant wardrobe, cemented his reputation as an unpredictable maverick. However, his status as a political "character" also bolstered his appeal among Dublin voters.

Andrews was Minister of State at the Department of the Environment with responsibility for Urban Renewal from October to December 1982.

Andrews was elected to the European Parliament in 1984 for the Dublin constituency and decided to concentrate on European politics instead of domestic. As an MEP, Niall Andrews remained committed to the causes he championed as a TD, notably confronting British Conservative MEPs over the use of potentially deadly plastic bullets for riot control in Northern Ireland. At one stage, he publicly suggested that Fianna Fáil sever ties with the French Gaullists, their main allies in the European Democratic Alliance, deeming them too right-wing. However, he was swiftly pressured to retract the comment. Much of Andrews' focus in the European Parliament centred on his work with the Cooperation and Development Committee, where he was a persistent advocate for increased aid to developing countries. He argued that Europe bore a moral obligation to assist nations that had often suffered under colonial rule. A particular passion of his was improving access to primary education in Africa, and he even sought to persuade Charles Haughey to visit the continent to witness its challenges firsthand, though without success.