Bord Gáis chief defends his right to speak out

THE head of one of the country’s largest state firms has defended his involvement in the Yes campaign saying he is entitled to have a view and is motivated out of concern for the economy.

Bord Gáis chief executive John Mullins said he has “every right” to get involved in a campaign for a Yes vote in the upcoming Lisbon referendum, adding that the reason why the country voted No in the last referendum was “because the majority of the electorate have a problem with politics as we have it”.

“There was too much politicising of something that was impacting the citizens of a country, on business, on jobs and the way of life that we have. That’s why business leaders have got out there and got active in the campaign,” he said.

“I’m doing this as a member of the Cork Chamber, as a leader of a business, which is one of the largest companies in the country. I believe I should be entitled to take a view. Other business leaders have taken a view why should it be any different for the chief executive of Bord Gáis to take a view,” he said.

Mr Mullins said he is not motivated by the state in his campaign adding that “nobody rang me from the state and said John go off out there and do something”.

“I’m doing it because I’ve got a concern. I do it because I’m a citizen of the state and I’m a leader of an energy infrastructure company and I believe that climate change and energy security are absolutely important to my business and as a result it is absolutely proper that I would comment about the importance of Lisbon,” he said.

“Whether we’re state or non-state we have an issue and we have to deal with it. It is not appropriate for a leader of a company such as this to stay in the background,” he added.