Former Bord Gáis chief John Mullins intends to run for Fine Gael in European elections

Originally from Bishopstown in Cork, and living in East Cork, John Mullins has a long-standing association with Fine Gael

John Mullins who is the former CEO of Bord Gáis, had been brought in by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to oversee the party’s electoral campaigns earlier this year.

Businessman and entrepreneur John Mullins has announced his intention to run for Fine Gael for the Ireland South constituency in the upcoming European elections.

His name will go forward for consideration at the party's selection convention on March 10 and it’s likely that he'll be ratified.

Mr Mullins, 55, who is the former CEO of Bord Gáis, had been brought in by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to oversee the party’s electoral campaigns earlier this year.

Originally from Bishopstown in Cork, and living in East Cork, he is currently the group chairman of solar energy firm Amarenco and has a long-standing association with Fine Gael.

The Irish Examiner reported earlier this week that Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, who is director of elections for Europe, was struggling to fill the place on the ticket left by the retirement of Deirdre Clune.

Given the vast size and scale of Ireland South and the size of Cork, it is felt that the county could elect at least two of the five TDs who will win seats.

Two seats — Ms Clune’s and Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher’s — are occupied by Cork-based MEPs, and some in the party believe it would be a “serious mistake” not to have a Cork person on the ticket after the selection convention on March 10.

It has now emerged that Mr Mullins will be putting his name forward to be the party’s candidate.

The Cork native has previously put his name forward to run for Fine Gael in the Cork North Central by-election in 1994 but was beaten in the selection convention by Colm Burke, who has served as TD for the constituency since 2020.

Mr Mullins served as CEO of Bord Gáis between 2007 and 2012. He also served as president of Cork Chamber of Commerce from 2011 to 2013.

He also served as chairman of the Port of Cork board between 2013 and 2018.