Andrews reveals Burke blockade

DISGRACED former Fianna Fáil minister Ray Burke blocked his colleague David Andrews from becoming minister for foreign affairs in 1997, the autobiography of the former TD from Dún Laoghaire reveals.

Mr Andrews, in his memoir, Kingstown Republican, recalls that Bertie Ahern when forming his first government, rang him to say that he (Mr Andrews) would be minister for foreign affairs and Ray Burke would have responsibility for the North.

“I was of course delighted with this, but my delight was short-lived. It seems that Burke objected strenuously to being given the limited responsibility of just Northern Ireland.