Former minister for foreign affairs David Andrews has died at the age of 91. Andrews twice served in the role, in 1992-1993 and from 1997 to 2000.He was a junior Fianna Fáil minister in the department, including during Ireland’s first presidency of the Council of the European Union in 1977, and also held cabinet positions in the Departments of Defence and the Marine. During a near 40-year Dáil career, he also served as government chief whip. He was first elected to represent Dún Laoghaire in 1965, and held his seat until stepping down at the 2002 general election.During his ministerial career he led campaigns for ratification of the Maastricht and Amsterdam treaties and obtained a seat for Ireland on the UN Security Council. After his political career, he acted as chairman of the Irish Red Cross, highlighting humanitarian crises in Somalia, Darfur and East Timor. In 2006 he was awarded the medal of the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, France’s most prestigious national order. He came from a well-known political family – his father, Todd Andrews, was a prominent republican during the War of Independence and the Civil War, as well as a major figure in the Free State, serving as chairman or managing director of the Irish Tourist Association, the ESB, Bord na Móna, CIE and as chairman of the RTÉ Authority. His mother, Mary Coyle, was an active member of Cumann na mBan, and spent time in Kilmainham Jail. He is survived by his wife Annette and their five children, including his sons, Dublin MEP and former Fianna Fáil TD Barry Andrews, and comedian Dave McSavage, and daughters Mary, Sinead and Claire. He was an uncle to former RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy and Sinn Féin Senator Chris Andrews.