Ben Collins

New York

Multimedia Journalist at ABC News (Australia)

Multimedia journalist with the ABC in the Kimberley. Opinions my own. I retweet what I find interesting even if I don't agree; does not equal endorsement.

Articles

Unionists must ask themselves: ‘is this as good as it gets?’

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Ben Collins

I come from a unionist background in Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, I believe in Irish unity, but I welcome the recent efforts by those who believe that Northern Ireland should stay as part of the United Kingdom. Like many others I want to hear the views of those who believe that Northern Ireland is better off as it is, and that its people should not contemplate joining with the rest of the island of Ireland, even if I disagree.
Border Poll debate is unstoppable

2 weeks ago | irishborderpoll.com | Ben Collins

As a former press officer in the British Government’s Northern Ireland Office (NIO), I’m always interested in what the NIO has to say. The recent furore about Fleur Anderson MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, making the quite reasonable assumption that opinion polls will be used to decide when a border poll is held, is sadly not unexpected.
The Irish Unity Dividend

1 month ago | irishborderpoll.com | Ben Collins

In 1992 Bill Clinton’s campaign for President famously used the line ‘It’s the economy, stupid’. Now the focus should be ‘It’s the economy, healthcare, housing and climate change, stupid’. Or to be more precise the mantra now must be “It’s quality of life, stupid”. All citizens who have a vote in any of these elections, should be asking themselves which party or parties, in a single transferable vote election, will focus on these issues and provide the best way forward.
The Taoiseach and Irish Unity?

Jan 22, 2025 | irishborderpoll.com | Ben Collins

The new Dublin government can move a United Ireland closer. But does it want to? Micheál Martin is in some ways a renaissance man, now that he has been voted again into the office of Taoiseach and will serve until the end of November 2027. He took over as leader of Fianna Fáil in 2011 when the party was at its lowest ebb, deeply unpopular in government after the Global Financial Crisis. At the subsequent election his party was reduced to twenty TDs, the lowest number ever returned for Fianna Fáil.
The Tricolour and Irish Unity

Jan 14, 2025 | irishborderpoll.com | Ben Collins

Author Ben Collins responds to criticism of the Tricolour this week and argues for eyes kept firmly on the prize of Irish Unity and its benefits. There has been a significant online debate in recent days about the merits or otherwise of the Irish Tricolour following an article published by Sam McBride in the Belfast Telegraph.
McGuigan for President

Dec 3, 2024 | irishborderpoll.com | Ben Collins

Now that the Dáil election is over, it is a good time to look ahead to a possible scenario for the next Irish Presidential election, due to take place in late 2025. It is frustrating and disappointing that only Irish citizens who live in the Twenty-Six Counties have a vote for our Head of State. The time has long past when Irish citizens in the North and who live overseas should have the right to vote.
What a Trump victory means for Irish Unity

Nov 8, 2024 | irishcentral.com | Ben Collins

First of all, I don’t think Donald Trump wakes up in the morning thinking of Ireland, except perhaps when he is contemplating his golf course in Doonbeg. But like the rest of the world, President Trump’s re-election has implications for Ireland and also specifically for the prospect of Irish unity. The current Irish coalition government is calling an election now because they believe they can project an offer of stability to the electorate, during a time of uncertainty.
What a Trump victory means for Irish Unity

Nov 7, 2024 | irishborderpoll.com | Ben Collins

By Ben Collins, author of Irish Unity:Time To PrepareFirst of all I don’t think Donald Trump wakes up in the morning thinking of Ireland, except perhaps when he is contemplating his golf course in Doonbeg. But like the rest of the world, President Trump’s re-election has implications for Ireland and also specifically for the prospect of Irish unity.
Meanwhile, in Ireland: Voters Prepare for their (Mercifully Short) Election Campaign

Nov 6, 2024 | policymagazine.ca | Ben Collins

Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris says the Irish will go to the polls Nov. 29/APBy Ben CollinsNovember 7, 2024It is no coincidence that the Irish Taoiseach, Simon Harris, chose the day after the US presidential election to announce that he’ll be calling a snap election for November 29th. With the world still processing the improbable return of a Republican president whose last term ended with a deadly assault on the US Capitol, Harris will be appealing to a desire for continuity and stability.
The Key Role of Alliance in a Border Poll Campaign

Oct 29, 2024 | irishborderpoll.com | Ben Collins

Professor Jon Tonge recently reported that his survey of Alliance party members showed a majority believe there will be and should be a border poll in the next decade. Eóin Tennyson, newly elected Deputy Leader of the party, stated in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph published on 28th October that Alliance would have a ‘leadership role’ in navigating the Irish unity discussion.