Tributes paid to Cork businessman and Fine Gael politician John Mullins

The Taoiseach and Tanaiste have paid tributes to John Mullins, following his death at the age of 57.

Mr Mullins, a Cork businessman who ran for Fine Gael in last year’s European elections, held roles as the former chief executive of Bord Gais, chairman of the Port of Cork, director of Pairc Ui Chaoimh and president of the Cork Chamber of Commerce.

The engineer was also the executive chairman of the Amarenco solar energy firm.

Fine Gael leader and Tanaiste Simon Harris expressed “shock and deep sadness” at the death of “a true son of Cork”.

Mr Harris said Mr Mullins’ entire career was motivated by a desire “to do right by his native city”.

In a statement, he said: “It was an honour to know John, to soldier with him in politics, to canvass with him and I always found it a joy to be in his company.

“John led a distinguished career including leading Bord Gais Energy through a period of great transition. John was a businessman and an entrepreneur who was experienced and motivated by ingenuity and reward of enterprise.”

He added: “For Fine Gael, he was a proud friend of so many and a party activist to his core. He was a former president of Young Fine Gael, a party trustee, a director of elections and more recently a European election candidate. The Fine Gael family, especially across Cork, mourns his loss today.

“He was kind, witty, intelligent, fundamentally decent and someone who always wanted to do right by his community and his country. His loss is immense and will be felt deeply by so many.

“I am especially thinking of his wife Siobhan and his two children Michael and Sarah as well as his parents Pat and Eileen.”

Visiting Cork on Monday, Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin also said he was “deeply saddened” at the death of Mr Mullins.

He said he had made a “most distinguished contribution to many facets of life in our country”, particularly in Cork.

“John was a wonderfully gregarious character who had a huge impact, particularly as chief executive of Bord Gais. He made really tremendous strides in terms of that organisation and subsequently with the Port of Cork.”

Mr Martin said he “often had great banter” with Mr Mullins over GAA rivalries.

He added: “I sympathise with the Fine Gael party. In many ways, his potential was realised in public service and in business, but he could just as easily have been realised in politics, and he had a deep and abiding interest in politics.

“You’d see him at all the counts over the years, who’s a great strategist, and I think all of us collectively, are shocked and saddened at his passing at such a young age – and we send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Siobhan and his family.”