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Funeral Arrangements for Sad Passing of Shane Mc Entee Minister of State for Food & Horticulture
- 24 December 2012
We were all shocked to hear about the sudden and sad passing of Shane. We offer our condolence's to his immediate family, friends and the many people he has worked with in the horticulture sector. Please see recent media comments and statements below.
Joseph Blair
Editor
Death Notice www.RIP.ie
The death has occurred of Shane McENTEE TD of Mitchelstown, Castletown, KP, Navan, Meath |
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The Government regrets to announce the sudden death of Minister of State, Shane McEntee TD. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shane's family and friends at this deeply sad time. Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy said today he is deeply saddened by the death of his party colleague and Minister of State, Shane McEntee, T.D.
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with responsibility for Food, Food Safety and Horticulture, died suddenly on Friday morning. According to Senator Mulcahy: "I was very friendly with Shane and found him to be an intelligent, softly spoken and hard working individual."
Senator Mulcahy said the Meath native was "very progressive" in his role as Junior Agriculture Minister. He explained: "Shane was a strong supporter of biomass energy. Only last week, he told a Teagasc conference about the cost benefits for farmers in practicing energy saving in their home and business. During recent weeks, Shane also established Ash Dieback eradication measures to curb the spread of the disease throughout the country. His passing is a great loss to the Department of Agriculture, the Government and indeed, Irish politics." "My thoughts and prayers are with Shane's wife and three children during this difficult time," Senator Mulcahy concluded.
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny says he is devastated by news of the sudden death of Junior Minister Shane McEntee, who was a close friend. Mr McEntee was the Fine Gael TD for Meath East. He was 56 and married with three children. Mr Kenny described the TD as a dedicated servant of the people of Meath. Mr Kenny added: "He brought great energy, diligence and enthusiasm to his role.
"On a personal level, Shane McEntee was a loyal friend and colleague and my thoughts and prayers go out to Kathleen and their family at this very sad time." Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, who worked closely with Mr McEntee, said he was deeply shocked and saddened by his colleague's death.
"My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family at what must be an awful and difficult time," said the minister. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin extended his sympathies to Mr McEntee's family, friends and Fine Gael colleagues - on both a personal and professional level. "He was a true gentleman who commanded the genuine affection and respect of people on all sides of the House," said Mr Martin. Mr McEntee was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with special responsibilities for Food, Food Safety and Horticulture.
He was first elected in 2005 to replace former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader John Bruton on his appointment as EU Ambassador to the United States. Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president John Bryan said the farming community was shocked. "Shane McEntee was a decent, hardworking public representative and farmers were very proud of his appointment as minister of state with responsibility for forestry last year," said Mr Bryan.
"He worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents and the farming community to find solutions." Mr Bryan added that both Mr McEntee and his father Tony before him were hugely committed to the IFA and its work in improving conditions for farm families. He said his work was appreciated all over the country. The IFA extended its deepest sympathies to Mr McEntee's wife, children, his mother Madge, brothers and sister.
Mr McEntee was first elected as a TD in the Meath by-election in 2005, and re-elected in May 2007 when he was appointed deputy spokesman on transport with responsibility for road safety. The TD was involved in numerous voluntary organisations, and had a particular love for the GAA.
He trained a number of football teams, including the Meath Minors, achieving success at county level six times.
- Fionnan Sheahan and Lyndsey Telford
Government minister suicide revealed as heartbroken family prepare to bury Shane McEntee.
The family of government minister Shane McEntee are preparing to bury Ireland's latest suicide victim. The nation is in shock after the 56-year-old father of three took his own life on Friday.
He took his dogs for a walk after breakfast on his Meath farm and never returned. Friends and political associates have told the Irish Sun newspaper that the Fine Gael deputy felt under pressure after recent budget cuts and severe public criticism.
He was particularly upset by the manner in which callers on radio shows berated him recently. As his wife Kathleen was being comforted by friends and family after the shock discovery, one Fine Gael TD complained of media bullying of the junior minister. A family friend told the Irish Sun: "The McEntees are devastated by this. Shane took all the recent pressure to heart. People need to realise politicians are human as well as the rest of us.
"He took all the public criticism very hard, he took it personally." Recent comments by McEntee over controversial Budget cuts in the respite care grant brought criticism. One fellow Fine Gael TD said: "There was an impression that Shane McEntee was under a lot of pressure recently.
"It was the usual types of pressures a lot of politicians are under but he was really feeling it. "He received a right hammering lately on the radio - it was really unfair.
Then there was the heavy criticism about his respite care comments." The colleague added: "Parts of social media give a voice to nutcases who are full of anger and spit out vitriol.
"There is no filter - they give a platform to these people when often it's just bile. "I'm not sure this was the only reason in this case, but it seems like a certain amount of social media bullying and media bullying was a factor. He had no financial or personal problems."
Irish Prime Minister and close friend Enda Kenny said he is devastated by McEntee's death. The Fine Gael leader said: "I am devastated at the sudden passing of Minister of State Shane McEntee.
"He brought great energy, diligence and enthusiasm to his role. On a personal level, Shane McEntee was a loyal friend and colleague."
President leads tributes to Shane McEntee - RTÉ News
President Michael D Higgins has led tributes for Fine Gael Minister of State Shane McEntee, who died suddenly. President Higgins said Mr McEntee, who was 56, would be missed by his family and friends, colleagues in political life and the wider community. In a statement, the Government also paid tribute to the Fine Gael TD, saying: "our thoughts and prayers are with Shane's family and friends at this deeply sad time."
Mr McEntee, a farmer from Castletown near Navan in Co Meath, was first elected to the Dáil in 2005, in the by-election caused by the appointment of John Bruton to the post of EU Ambassador in Washington. He retained his seat in Meath East in 2007 and 2011, when he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, with responsibility for Food, Food Safety and Horticulture. Mr McEntee was a farmer for 15 years before becoming a full-time politician, as well as an agricultural sales representative. He was involved in the GAA and had trained a number of football teams, including the Meath minors. He is survived by his wife Kathleen and children Vincent, Helen and Sally. President Higgins said Mr McEntee had "made an enormous contribution to community and public life throughout his career in farming and agriculture, as a TD representing the people of Meath in Dáil Éireann and to the world of sport through his involvement with the GAA". In a statement, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was devastated at Mr McEntee's death. "Since his election to the Dáil, Shane has been a dedicated servant of the people of Meath. As Minister of State, he brought great energy, diligence and enthusiasm to his role. "On a personal level Shane McEntee was a loyal friend and colleague and my thoughts and prayers go out to Kathleen and their family at this very sad time." Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore also expressed his sympathy to the family Mr McEntee. "Shane was a passionate advocate for his Meath East constituents, particularly for the farming community," he said. "His good nature and warm personality will be sadly missed by his parliamentary colleagues from across the political divide." Fine Gael Deputy Leader and Health Minister James Reilly has expressed his sympathy. He said Mr McEntee was a larger-than-life individual who gave 100% commitment to everything he did, whether it was his business, his constituents or his country. Dr Reilly said he would be sadly missed and he expressed his deep sorrow on a sad, sad day. Minister for Agriculture and the Marine Simon Coveney said: 'I'm deeply shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Shane McEntee. "My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family at what must be an awful and difficult time". Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin said Mr McEntee was a true gentleman who commanded the genuine affection and respect of people on all sides of the House. Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said his thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad time. IFA President John Bryan said the farming community was shocked beyond belief at the death. "He worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents and the farming community to find solutions," he said. The management and staff of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have conveyed their deep sadness and regret on the sudden death of Mr McEntee.
Source: HortiTrends News Room
