Kenny pays tribute to McEntee

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has paid tribute to the late Minister of State Shane McEntee, describing him as a "close true friend and confidante...who listened to people's problems and made them his own".

He was delivering the graveside oration at Minister McEntee's funeral in Nobber, County Meath.

The Taoiseach said Shane McEntee had been described as larger than life, but that last Friday when tragedy and time collided, we discovered that that was not the case.

Enda Kenny also made an impassioned plea for everyone to look out for each other over the Christmas period.

About three thousand people have attended the funeral, during which Shane McEntee's brother Gerry made an emotional tribute and received two standing ovations.

He said Shane had received so much criticism online for his recent comments on the budget, and that the last four weeks had been dreadfully harrowing for him.