Political Career
He got a job with the Irish Tourist Association and later with Electricity Supply Board. When the Fianna Fáil government came to power in 1932 Andrews was put in charge of turf development. He advocated the setting up of a properly managed commercial enterprise. In 1946 Bord na Móna was set up with Andrews as managing director.
In 1958 he was appointed chairman of the Irish transport company, Córas Iompair Éireann. Aping the widescale closures in Britain (the Beeching Axe), he presided over closure of significant sections of the rail network which by 1962 included
- the Bray to Harcourt Street railway line, now partially reopened as part of the LUAS Green Line
- the substantial railway network west of Cork city (Bandon, Bantry and Macroom and the associated branchlines to Clonakility, Skibbereen and Kinsale)
- the West Clare Railway and the legacy tramway around the Hill of Howth inherited from the Great Northern Railway.
- Cahersiveen, Kenmare & Kanturk lines
In 1966 Todd Andrew was appointed chairman of the RTÉ Authority. Asked the difference between his new job as director of RTÉ and his old job as head of the national transport system, he is reputed to have declared, "RTÉ carries more passengers" (though this was a fairly common joke among Dubliners at that time). He resigned in 1970 when his son, David Andrews was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach.
Read more about this topic: Todd Andrews
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