He also had a sporting career, being the holder of three Munster football Gaelic Athletic Association medals with Cork GAA at Under 21, Junior and Senior level.

In a 2004 reshuffle, Bertie Ahern appointed O'Keeffe as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Environmental Protection.

In 2007, O'Keeffe was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Housing and Urban Renewal.

The rally outside Leinster House coincided with a Dáil debate on a Labour Party motion calling for the increase in class sizes to be reversed.

The cutbacks removed substitution cover for uncertified sick leave, and for teachers on school business at second level, from 7 January 2009.

Protestant parents claimed that they would have to accept fewer teachers per child, and that their schools would not be funded to employ non-academic staff in the way that their Roman Catholic neighbours are.

[15][16][17] O'Keeffe stated that he wanted to increase third-level participation, and claimed that the "free fees" scheme had not accomplished this.

[18] After putting forward a range of options to the cabinet in July 2009, O'Keeffe set a deadline of 15 September 2009 for his colleagues to decide on the issue.