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Statement from Simon Coveney on the death of Minister Shane McEntee
"The news yesterday of Shane's death has shocked and numbed us all in Fine Gael and in the Department of Agriculture. Shane was one of the most honest and big-hearted people I have ever had the privilege to know. His popularity crossed the political divide, everybody loved Shane. We are all just devastated at his untimely death.
He was such a fantastic support within the Department of Agriculture - talented, down to earth and loyal to the core whenever I needed him. He understood farmers and rural people in a way that I can only aspire to.
Farmers loved Shane for his blunt and practical approach to solving problems. He was a people person who really took the problems of others to his heart and advocated passionately for the values he believed in and the people he represented.
Shane was such a family man, his wife Kathleen and his children meant everything to him. They will miss him so much and our thoughts and prayers this Christmas and for a long time after will be with them all.”