Cork renewable energy entrepeneur John Mullins on FG EU election ticket 

Cork businessman John Mullins has been selected to join Seán Kelly MEP on the Fine Gael ticket to contest the European Parliament elections in Ireland South in June during a convention held in Clonmel on Sunday afternoon.

The Knocknaheeny man, a former CEO of Bórd Gáis and founder of renewable energy giant, Amarenco, which is building solar and wind farms in Ireland and throughout the EU and further afield, was selected alongside the current MEP, Kerry based Seán Kelly at the selection convention held in Clonmel’s Hotel Minella and attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Simon Coveney.

Mr Mullins, who graduated from UCC with a degree in electrical engineering, said he hoped that the electorate would see he had different experience on national and international levels.

“My focus will be on creating a new rural contract, putting renewable energy as one of Ireland’s largest exports and ensuring that Ireland has a new strong experienced negotiator for our interests,” said Mr. Mullins.

The new @FineGael candidate John Mullins speaking at the Convention in @hotelminella Clonmel. @SeanKellyMEP and @jpemul06 are the FG candidates in European Election for Ireland South pic.twitter.com/WaGwD2R2JM

— Colm Burke TD (@ColmBurkeTD) March 10, 2024

“I am intent on giving this campaign my full energy and I am also intent on ensuring that we hold on to our two seats in Europe.” His running mate, Seán Kelly, paid tribute to outgoing FG MEP Deirdre Clune who had announced her decision not to run in the June elections late last year.

“Deirdre will be a huge loss to Fine Gael and to the European Parliament more broadly,” said Mr. Kelly, adding that he was looking forward to working with John Mullins, whom he described as an ‘excellent candidate with tremendous experience’.

Trade and Employment Minister Simon Coveney, who is Fine Gael’s Director of Elections in the June poll, chaired the convention. He also paid tribute to the two candidates and said he had ‘no doubt the they will make a very positive impact’.

“The last five years have shown how vital Fine Gael’s MEPs have been on the European stage, protecting our national interest through Brexit and Covid, while also standing up for the right thing on the global stage, such as our position on Russia’s war in Ukraine,” he said.

“I also wish to pay tribute to outgoing MEP Deidre Clune for representing the people of Ireland South so competently over the past 10 years.

“She has always been a dedicated public representative and a valued colleague and I wish her well in her new chapter.”