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Chris Andrews (politician)

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Chris Andrews
Andrews in 2023
Teachta Dála
In office
February 2020 – November 2024
ConstituencyDublin Bay South
In office
May 2007 – February 2011
ConstituencyDublin South-East
Personal details
Born (1964-05-25) 25 May 1964 (age 60)
Dublin, Ireland
Political partySinn Féin (since 2012)
Other political
affiliations		Fianna Fáil (until 2012)
Spouse
Tina Andrews
​
(m. 1997)​
Children2
Parent
Relatives
EducationNewpark Comprehensive School
Alma materNUI Maynooth

Chris Andrews (born 25 May 1964)[1] is an Irish former politician who was a Fianna Fáil TD for the Dublin South-East constituency from 2007 to 2011, then, after a gap of nine years, he was a Sinn Féin TD for the Dublin Bay South constituency from 2020 to 2024.[2]

Early life and family

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He is the grandson of Todd Andrews, a leading Irish republican figure and member of Fianna Fáil following the foundation of the party. His father Niall Andrews and his uncle David Andrews both served as Fianna Fáil TDs, while his first cousin Barry Andrews was elected a Fianna Fáil TD at the 2002 general election and is now an MEP. He was the fourth member of his family to have sat in the Dáil. He is a cousin of the comedy writer and performer David McSavage, and another cousin, Ryan Tubridy, was the host of The Late Late Show on RTÉ One. Andrews is married with two daughters.

As a child, Andrews appeared in the Safe Cross Code road safety TV advertisement along with his younger sister, Niamh.[3]

Andrews graduated from Maynooth University with a degree in community and youth work.[4]

Political career

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In May 2007, Andrews topped the poll in the Dublin South-East constituency, on his second attempt, gaining 6,600 first preferences. He was a member of Dublin City Council from 1999 to 2004, 2006 to 2007 and 2014 to 2020.[5]

Andrews was convenor of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, and was a member of the Trade, Enterprise and Employment Committee and the European Scrutiny Committee in the 30th Dáil.

During the 2009 European Parliament election in Ireland, Andrews distributed political leaflets showing him shaking hands with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, taken during a meeting earlier that year. The leaflets bore the headline "EU must maintain pressure on Israel to negotiate meaningful". The leaflets' contents were called back into question in September 2013 when Andrews joined Sinn Féin.[6]

Twitter account controversy and departure from Fianna Fáil

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In the aftermath of the 2011 general election, in which he and many other Fianna Fáil members lost their seats as TDs, Fianna Fáil were struggling in the polls. In August 2012, Andrews left the Fianna Fáil party. He said that he was disillusioned with the lack of direction the party was taking after it was revealed he had been using a Twitter account to anonymously attack party leader Micheál Martin and other senior members, including a constituency rival, Councillor Jim O'Callaghan. Andrews stated that his decision to quit the party was not related to the Twitter account even though his resignation followed two days after Andrews had been confronted about his online trolling activity and cyberbullying of party colleagues.[7]

As a member of Sinn Féin

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Andrews in 2014

In September 2013, he joined Sinn Féin and successfully contested the 2014 local elections for the Pembroke South Dock local electoral area of Dublin City Council for the party.[8]

In February 2015, he was selected to contest the new constituency of Dublin Bay South at the 2016 general election;[9] however, he failed to be elected.

He was the Sinn Féin candidate for the Dublin Bay South constituency at the 2020 general election and was elected.[10] Daniel Ceitinn was co-opted to Andrews' seat on Dublin City Council following his election to the Dáil.[11]

Following the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, EU President Ursula von der Leyen stated "I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks". In response, Andrews tweeted: "It seems that according to the EU and Ireland, only Palestine has no right to defend itself against murder, torture and apartheid".[12] Andrews' comments were covered in The Irish Times and an opinion piece by Harry McGee offered the view that Andrews was less critical of Hamas than of the Israeli Defence Forces. Following this article, Andrew began legal proceedings against The Irish Times, citing deformation.[12][13] Andrews' case was criticised by pro-journalist organisations such as the press ombudsman Susan McKay, the National Union of Journalists and Reporters without Borders.[12]

Andrews lost his seat at the 2024 general election.

Political views

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During the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict Andrews called for an economic, diplomatic and political boycott of Israel, for its ambassador to Ireland to be expelled, and for shops to remove "settler produce" from Israel. He said that Israel had the right to defend itself, but that its disproportionate response meant that "...it can only now be classified as a terror state".[14] He later told a Russian reporter that there was no electricity in Gaza throughout his time there.[15] On 30 May 2010, he was one of three Irish politicians who were prevented from leaving Cyprus by authorities to join an international flotilla carrying aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip.[16]

In June 2011 Andrews stated on Twitter: "Lab[our] are a pro-Israeli party & [Fine Gael] foreign affairs on Israel are determined by Israeli puppets in Ireland. Alan Shatter Gov will support Israel".[6]

In March 2011, Andrews set off on another flotilla to Gaza. His shipmates included Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh.[17] In November 2011, Andrews was reported to be on board another ship heading to Gaza on a humanitarian mission.[18]

In December 2020, Andrews apologised for liking tweets about Laurel Hubbard that were perceived as transphobic by transgender rights campaigners. The tweet criticised transgender women participating in female sports.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Chris Andrews". Houses of the Oireachtas. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Chris Andrews". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  3. ^ McMahon, Cathal (18 December 2007). "TD follows the code and still looks left and right". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  4. ^ Cullen, Paul (10 February 2020). "Election 2020: Chris Andrews (Sinn Féin)". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Chris Andrews". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  6. ^ a b O'Connell, Hugh (9 September 2013). "'It's not a new photo': Sinn Féin on picture of Chris Andrews with Bashar al-Assad". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  7. ^ Reilly, Jerome (12 August 2012). "Sting op exposes Andrews over FF Twitter rants". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Ex-Fianna Fáil TD Andrews 'in serious discussions' to run for Sinn Féin". Irish Independent. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Dublin People | Jim O'Callaghan fires shots across Sinn Féin's bows". Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  10. ^ Cullen, Paul (10 February 2020). "Dublin Bay South results: Andrews says tent incident influenced voters". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  11. ^ Hosford, Paul (5 May 2021). "Chu confirms she will seek Green Party nomination for Dublin Bay South by-election". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "Profile: Chris Andrews". The Phoenix. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  13. ^ Keena, Colm (7 November 2023). "Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews sues The Irish Times". Irish Times. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Israel a terror state and envoy should be expelled, says FF TD". The Irish Times. 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  15. ^ "Freedom flotilla ready to break through blockade". ArabNews. 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  16. ^ "Delegation blocked from joining Gaza flotilla". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Eoghan Harris". Martin must choose either Fine Fail or Flotilla Fail. 30 January 2011. Archived from the original on 31 January 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Irish aid ship bound for Gaza". RTÉ. 2 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  19. ^ "Andrews in apology for 'anti-trans' tweets likes". independent. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
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