Kyne was ahead of Independent candidate Catherine Connolly by a margin of 17 votes.

Connolly sought a full recount, which concluded after a total of four days of counting but did not change the outcome.

On 19 May 2016, he was appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources by the new minority government of Fine Gael and Independents led by Enda Kenny.

On 20 June 2017, he was appointed as Minister of State for Natural Resources, Community Affairs and Digital Development by the minority government led by Leo Varadkar.

He was nominated to the Seanad by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, to fill a vacancy caused by the election of Frank Feighan to the Dáil.