Barry Andrews, during his time heading the group in Dublin, felt a part of him wither. An equivalent scenario unfolded in 2019 for the candidate from Fianna Fáil. In his instance, initial polls showed him leading with a staggering 19 per cent, substantially ahead of his rivals. Regrettably, his standing fell to 14 per cent by the time of voting, landing him in the third position in the initial count, and later overtaken by Clare Daly in subsequent counts.
Despite being fourth in a technically three-seat constituency, he found himself stuck mid-air. Although Brexit had enabled an additional seat for Dublin courtesy of the UK’s seat redistribution, it lacked official authorisation. This put Andrews on standby for an extended period before acquiring his seat in Brussels, a situation complicated further by the onset of Covid.
Andrews expressed his unease about opinion polls noting their unreliability, “Opinions can shift drastically,” he points out. “It’s not until two weeks into the campaign that voters truly engage. It’s not solely about recognising the candidate’s name, voters start to contemplate on these matters seriously.”
Standing tall and relaxed, Andrews’ persona masks his firm beliefs. His lineage traces back to a Fianna Fáil family from South Dublin, associated with country’s inception. His father, David Andrews, was a minister of foreign affairs and acknowledged their blue-blood lineage in his memoir, Kingston Republican. Andrews also shares a familial relationship with Ryan Tubridy, a prominent broadcaster, to whom he bears a resemblance.
When in Dún Laoghaire, Blathnaid O’Reilly is spotted cooking sausages at Hicks’ Butchers’ entrance. Upon seeing Andrews, she notes his likeness to Ryan. Commenting on canvassing with candidates, it’s likened to Kildare’s stance for an All-Ireland series game against Mayo years prior, it’s either ‘Newbridge or Nowhere.’ For Andrews, this translates to Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire- his home turf.
On a bright morning in Blackrock’s main thoroughfare, Andrews and his crew are interacting with the bustling crowd. He takes this opportunity to caution the public about what he perceives to be risky times in European politics, with the potential rise of right-leaning, Eurosceptic individuals who are traditionally considered outliers.
Andrews is approached with several critical issues including migration, housing, climate change (more so by the youth), and the cost of living. He notes that migration, contrary to popular belief, isn’t as considerable a concern. He acknowledges the potential social and political divisiveness of the issue and recognises its potential for hazard.
One instance of such concern is experienced through Aidan Fitzgerald, a hair salon owner for over four decades. Fitzgerald criticises the haphazard handling of migration and refers to instances of deportation he heard through the radio, a sentiment with which Andrews concurs. He believes in finding a balance in ensuring safe routes for genuine refugees and diligently applying the law, a balance he believes is currently lacking, consequently causing a loss in public faith and political divergence.
Andrews shares that despite some reservations, he supports the Asylum and Migration Pact, a document he had voted for in his role as an MEP. His discomfort stems from his past experience leading the aid agency Goal, particularly with some aspects of the pact, such as child detention, that in his opinion, may not pass the scrutiny of the European Convention of Human Rights. However, he firmly believes in the pact as the best political vehicle for establishing an EU-framework. He emphasises that unilateral actions by 27 member nations will be futile, stating that it’s taken a decade to reach their current standing. Nevertheless, he is pessimistic about any significant change in the next term considering the current political trajectory.
As part of their campaign, Andrews participates in a Q&A at Sion Hill in Blackrock. His past work history as a teacher, lawyer, and head of a non-profit work towards his advantage, especially in engaging younger audiences.
He informs pupils that the cobalt utilised in their mobile devices and PCs could potentially be a result of child exploitation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also brings to their attention the fact that rapid turnover in the fashion industry can potentially contribute to around 10 per cent of worldwide emissions.
Following the discussion, the group takes a stroll around Dún Laoghaire, in the company of local election nominees Cllr Justin Moylan and Colette O’Sullivan. Some individuals speculate that because Regina Doherty of Fine Gael resides in the north, the definitive southsider Andrews might appeal to Fine Gael adherents residing south of the Liffey, though he questions its veracity.
Responding to this, he states, “Truthfully, in Dublin, Fianna Fáil is projected at 11 per cent.” Asserting his position, he adds, “To stand any odds, I must attain votes from all quarters, northern, southern, Fine Gael, the Greens, and beyond.”