Éamon Ó Cuív praises deputy O'Keefe as rural champion
Éamon Ó Cuív praised deputy O'Keefe for his outstanding parliamentary service and as a minister for rural affairs, commending his skill in securing funding for local projects. He urged other deputies to study O'Keefe's approach to leveraging allocations across government departments.
Tribute and parliamentary service
The speaker paid tribute to deputy O'Keefe for many years of parliamentary service and for his contributions as a minister. He described O'Keefe's record as notable and publicly acknowledged his commitment to communities.
Ministerial role and funding approach
The speech highlighted O'Keefe's role as minister for rural affairs and his part in the creation of that department. He was credited with an ability to leverage funding from other government departments, often coming up with maybe 2% of the eventual allocation of what he was seeking but ultimately securing the resources.
Examples of local projects supported
The speaker said deputy O'Keefe successfully argued for funding for a range of local needs - from schools and island projects to medical facilities. His persistence in making compelling cases for small communities was emphasised as a hallmark of his work.
Advice to other deputies
The speaker suggested deputy Shanahan could look to O'Keefe as a role model for how to obtain allocations and work the system. He described O'Keefe's ability to leverage ministers and departments as an 'art form' worth studying.
Local reaction in Connemara
The speaker recounted visiting Connemara and sensing strong affection and loyalty towards O'Keefe. He said people were proud of whom they had elected to represent their community in Dail Eireann.
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Ychonch, Corauleach, Triday eirannach, A idris náirannach, A t knight, Healaann, Bueyn Mbaech, Dail Eireann, Eisleajt, Warnilug, Ataach, Saoitte, Nhaibrofaad Iannantit, Eisleaht, Eislein, Balachachachach, Cahensidling Igna Guna, Bygodas Reochus, Tysginach, Duaimann. Come on, Mary was told to be honest that she brought a lot to be able to do it, but whenever she was working with her, she gave her a lot of – John for the time and she sop and she was inвор. And she did the same for both of us, and very proud to be with Thomas Burns. Thomas Byrne, a great job in the village of the Gualtachta. In the end of the day, there was no reason to be here in the village, and it was a great place. I was told to go to the village, and to go to the village, and to the village, and to the village, and to the village, and to the village. and the written translation in the French, and the English translation in the French and English. In a few words, I'm reading the book, and I'm reading the book, and I'm reading the book and I've read it, so I've read it, and I've read it, and I've read it, and on billish off okay if new August and a clear vine August more English in bottom move it was a while did I saw to make sure if he should talk to a good sir or after dollar I was my other and written a billion to talk to dollar then school the two are too false I was added in school homo and just for the benefit of those not as proficient in Irish I just want to pay tribute to deputy O'Keefe for his outstanding parliamentary service to this country over quite a number of years and also as a minister I had never come across a minister particularly minister for rural affairs and he was the champion of that department the creation of it but who could leverage funding from every other government department and he would inevitably come up with maybe 2% of the eventual allocation of what he was looking for but he always got it whether it was for a school in an island or whether it was for a medical facility or whatever and he would always make a compelling case for it and I would suggest to deputy Shanahan that perhaps he's a good role model in terms of leveraging from the system and ministers and so on he created an art form in terms of of having that capacity but I was out I was looking spittle the other day Connemara and one could feel the affection for him in O'Keefe and the loyalty to him and the sense of they've been proud of whom they of who they elected to Doyle-Irden to represent their community I was going to hide it in a in a you know come as no real gay get I was going to show ball done does not talk to August on the tongue and the tear of them you you you you you you you you you you you
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