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With his re-election in Wexford, Fine Gael's Paul Kehoe has cemented his reputation as a survivor.
In 2016, he only just got re-elected, beating Sinn Féin’s Johnny Mythen to the fifth seat by a few dozen transfers.
Kehoe (47) had a slightly easier time in 2020 but it was still close. He was elected on the eleventh count without reaching the quota and was helped over the line by the transfers of his eliminated party colleague Michael D’Arcy.
A farmer from the village of Bree, Kehoe was first elected to the Dáil in 2002. He first served as opposition spokesman for communications, marine and the environment as well as Fine Gael assistant chief whip.
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After Fine Gael took power in 2011, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Defence and Government Chief Whip. .
The latter part of his tenure at Defence was marked by deep frustration among the Defence Forces personnel who complained of poor pay and conditions and a severe retention crisis in the military.
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