Barry Andrews: More than just a backbencher

Barry Andrews, a politician who says what he thinks, from a family with a long political history, talks to Mary Regan about his frustration with his role as a backbencher

The role of government backbencher TDs is often called into question. It is sometimes claimed that they have no power and little influence. They are generally dismissed as "lobby fodder", sitting silently behind the Taoiseach and voting appropriately when required. Fianna Fáil's Barry Andrews once complained to the Dáil, after hearing about plans for the citizenship referendum on the radio, that it was the fate of the backbenchers never to be consulted about anything except being "herded into the Chamber as voting fodder".

Andrews believes the role of a backbencher should go beyond that: "We're the legislators, we're not elected to rubber-stamp legislation". He says he is one of a group of backbenchers who does more than just press the appropriate voting button for the Taoiseach: "I've spoken out against government policy once or twice, I've had my knuckles rapped once or twice by the higher-ups, but I'm certainly not afraid to say what I think".

Andrews's influence may not go as far as he would like, but he has been more vocal than some on the backbench: He co-chaired an ad hoc committee of backbenchers who opposed Michael McDowell's proposals for café-bar licenses; he expressed opposition to plans to introduce Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), saying they should not be used against anyone under the age of 18; he was against any Government support of the US-led war against Iraq in the absence of a UN mandate and he even supported the opposition view that the citizenship referendum should have been referred to the All-Party Committee on the Constitution, of which he is a member. At times, when he has supported Government positions he has done so as a minority in his party. He joked that he could be accused of sowing dissent within Fianna Fáil by supporting the Government's position on adopting EU guidelines for embryonic stem-cell research.

But he denies that any revolts by him or any other backbenchers mean a division within Fianna Fáil. "The trouble with speaking out as a backbencher is that many elements in the media are more interested in the side show of some internal strife and ignore the issues you might genuinely be concerned about."

Andrews says he has always been interested in politics "but when there is family involvement, it's a seed that is planted in your mind by other people from when you are very young". He says being the son of the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Andrews, made it "seriously easier" to get elected to the Dáil for the first time in 2002. "It was a lot easier because of the name, and I make no bones about that" he admits, "but after getting elected the name no longer matters, you're in your own space then and have to work harder to keep your seat. The voters are a lot more discerning these days."

Despite the family dynasty behind him, Andrews cannot be altogether certain of his seat in Dún Laoghaire where Fine Gael is largely expected to make a comeback. Fine Gael once held two seats there but was left with none after the last election. If its strong local election results in the area are anything to go by, this will change. Donal Marren topped the poll and Maria Bailey also won a seat in the Ballybrack electoral area, while Bailey's father, John Bailey headed the poll in the Dún Laoghaire electoral area.

There are three government seats there at the moment including Andrews, the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, as well as Fiona O'Malley of the PDs. "I was the last one of the three of them to get in last time, so strictly speaking I am the most vulnerable," says Andrews. "But if the Government can sort out a few basic problems like childcare and A&E, then I think the public will be responsive to that and give us a third term."