Irish Unity Dividend by Ben Collins sampler

ben collins grew up in a strongly pro-unionist and pro- British
background in East Belfast. Previously a volunteer for the uup
campaign during the 2001 Westminster election, an active
member of the uk Conservative Party in Scotland from 2001 to
2003 and then a campaigner for the Alliance Party in Northern
Ireland, he is not a member of any political party. A communications
consultant and director with an independent public
affairs agency in Belfast, he has previously been the uk executive
director for uli (Urban Land Institute), chief executive
of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations
(nifha) and has worked in roles with a strong focus on political
communications for more than twenty-five years. This has
included working as a press officer for the Northern Ireland
Office (uk Government Department) at the time of the St
Andrews Agreement negotiations, for three international communications
consultancies, a professional body and a medical
regulator. He has an MSc in Political Communication, an mba
and a Law degree, and is licensed to practise as an attorney in
New York State. His first book Irish Unity: Time to Prepare
was also published by Luath Press, in October 2022. He resides
in his home city of Belfast, working across the island of Ireland.
He has previously lived and worked in Edinburgh, Cardiff,
London and Dublin.

The Irish Unity
Dividend
BEN COLLINS

First published 2025
isbn: 978-1-80425-207-9
The author’s right to be identified as author of this book under the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988 has been asserted.
This book is made of materials from well-managed, fsc ® -certified
forests and other controlled sources.
Printed and bound by Ashford Colour Ltd., Gosport
Typeset in 12pt Sabon by Lapiz
© Ben Collins 2025

For Alison,
With you everything is possible.

Contents
Acknowledgements9
Foreword
by Former President of Ireland Dr Mary McAleese 15
Glossary of Terms 19
Timeline of Key Events 23
Introduction37
Healthcare45
Housing and Infrastructure 57
Education and Skills 73
Economy83
Relations with Europe 113
Relations with Britain 125
Addressing the Climate Crisis 147
Renewing the Political Compact between
State and Citizens 161
Protecting and Cherishing all People Equally 191
In Conclusion 213
Endnotes219

Foreword
there are many reasons to believe that ending partition on
the island of Ireland and establishing a shared form of unified
governance will not only lead to greater political stability
through communal reconciliation and an embedded egalitarian
culture of parity of esteem but will also promote much better
outcomes across all the metrics that reveal quality of life for all
who live on the island of Ireland. Some of those metrics make
for hard reading today – they contradict past assumptions and
call for urgent attention.
An Economic and Social Research Institute (esri) 1 report
published in April 2025 highlights the stark differences which
now exist between Northern Ireland and the Republic. In 2004,
at the end of my first term as President, the expected lifespan
of people on both sides of the border was equal. Now, a child
who was born in 2021 in the South can expect to live for
82.4 years – two years longer than someone born at the same
time in Northern Ireland. There is also a significant discrepancy
between North and South in relation to infant mortality.
In Northern Ireland, for every thousand babies born, 4.8 will
die before their first birthday – the equivalent figure for the
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the irish unity dividend
Republic is 2.8. The rates for infant mortality were the same
for the two states on the island in 2009.
Irish Unity provides us with the route to securing and
maintaining a truly seamless all-Ireland approach to healthcare
which we clearly and urgently need. Providing an environment
where there can be good health outcomes is a crucial function
for a state.
Compared to the Republic, Northern Ireland also suffers
from lower levels of educational attainment, the repercussions
of which last long beyond the classroom and the workplace.
Young people’s experience at school and further education can
often play a formative role in their future development and in
how they contribute to the healthy development of their own
lives and the life of their civic society. The fact that a third of
young people in Northern Ireland aged between 15 and 19 are
not in education is a cause for worry. This is substantially more
than the number of early school leavers in the Republic and
reflects unacceptable levels of wasted potential.
There is a clear link between poor health outcomes and
low educational achievement; between early school leaving
and recruitment into paramilitarism and anti-social activities.
Equality of opportunity for all pupils in post-primary education
is the hallmark of a healthy society. It is also the driver of
a healthy society. Sadly, the partitioned nature of our island
means that educational and health outcomes are shaped for
better or worse according to whether you live in the North or
the South.
Young people – whether in Dublin or Belfast, Cork or
Derry – need hope, and they depend on decision-making adults
to create the conditions in which they can fully flourish. They
quite literally are the future of our island. We owe it to every
one of them to provide a nurturing society, careful of their lives,
investing in their opportunities, willing them on to grow, learn
and develop in peace and in shared prosperity. The benefits to
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foreword
all should be obvious, should be compelling enough to challenge
us to put aside old vanities and tribalism and engage
in realistic people-centred and prospects-centred discussions
about how to create together a great future for all.
The theme for my presidency was ‘Building Bridges’ and
that work is still much needed if future generations are to feel
the power and potential that we are capable of generating by
new forms of collaboration in a New Ireland. It is important
that everyone is given the chance to participate in how we
build the island home for all the future. The debates and decisions
needed to create that new homeland for all will need the
thinking and involvement of all mindsets across the cohorts
of Unionist, Nationalist, Loyalist, Republican, and all others,
including those are currently reluctant to engage on constitutional
issues.
Fear never created a future worth looking forward to. A new
all-island homeland within the European Union offers a vision
beyond fear; a vision for lives valued, perspectives respected,
differences transcended by a culture of good neighbours, of
the best health, education, housing and employment outcomes
distributed fairly in a society built on justice and equity and the
fullest social, civic inclusion.
Ireland today has been transformed thanks to independence
and education into one of the fastest growing economies
in Europe. Northern Ireland’s fortunes have not been so buoyant,
but they could be, and I hope will be. During my time as
President, I was fortunate to be able to travel to many countries
across the globe and everywhere I found the most remarkable
and consistent goodwill towards our island with its vibrant
culture celebrated and enjoyed far from its original roots.
We have already given the world so much by way of those
who left our shores and now the generation that is rooted here,
that has experienced these hard-earned days of peace, has the
gift of future progress in its own hands. Our friends all over the
world are willing us on to be the very best we can be.
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the irish unity dividend
I believe the removal of the border will allow us and future
generations to build normalised, organic, solid relationships in
place of zero-sum estrangements. One day a united, reconciled
people will be able to say they helped the island of Ireland take
her place among the nations of the world, proud, prosperous,
peaceful and a light to a broken world. A light lit by its healthy,
educated, confident people, all of them, and driven by insisting
on the best for all who call the island of Ireland their home.
I commend this book for setting out the many benefits
which will arise from the reunification of Ireland, if we plan in
advance of a border poll and get the structures right. Regardless
of background or beliefs, there will be an Irish Unity Dividend
for all who live across this island.
Dr Mary McAleese
Former President of Ireland (1997–2011)
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Introduction
for me the irish unity Dividend is the many benefits which
all citizens who live across Ireland will receive, if we plan in
advance of the border poll and put the right structures in place.
I firmly believe that unity will help to create peace and prosperity.
Northern Ireland simply isn’t working and the Republic
will benefit from the extra capacity and resources (people, land,
energy, food etc) which reunification will bring. Reconciliation
can only be fully achieved through reunification which must
include respect and safeguards for all cultures and the wonderful
diversity which exists across Ireland.
Readers familiar with my first book will remember that
I grew up during the Troubles in a strongly pro-British, unionist
household. So, I had always been determined that I was
not going to be forced into a united Ireland by violence or the
threat of it.
Then came the Good Friday Agreement, which changed
everything. It brought peace to Northern Ireland and, while
it was not perfect, once peace came and settled, I was able to
think about things differently.
Despite my upbringing, I had always instinctively felt Irish
in addition to being British. Over time, though, particularly
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the irish unity dividend
while living and working in Britain – Dundee, then Edinburgh;
Cardiff, then London – my thinking evolved. My sense of
Irishness increased while my sense of Britishness dissipated.
Flash forwards some decades later, which also involved working
in Dublin, I have finished my second book on the urgent
need for Irish Unity and the benefits it could bring.
For some, Irish Unity is a romantic ideal. But reunification
is not just about reclaiming the fourth green field, while
that is important. We cannot simply expect the entirety of the
Republic to vote for unity because of an historic connection to
the idea of reuniting the island.
Irish Unity must be about bringing people from across
Ireland together in a common purpose. We need to show the
benefits of Irish Unity in a way that resonates with politicians
and citizens, because people will vote for reunification to secure
peace and prosperity rather than doing so merely for posterity.
The key focus of any society should always be: how do we
ensure the best possible quality of life for ourselves, our family,
friends and neighbours? Those of us who favour Irish Unity do
so, in part, because we believe that a reunited Ireland within
the European Union will provide the highest possible quality of
life for all who live across the island of Ireland.
Whether people live in East Belfast or North Dublin, they
want to have hope for the future that there will be opportunity
for their families and that the vulnerable will be cared for.
In 1992, Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign famously
adopted the line, ‘It’s the economy, stupid’. 30-plus years later,
I would say, ‘It’s the economy, healthcare, housing and climate
change, stupid’. But perhaps that doesn’t roll off the tongue
quite as well. So, to be more concise I will say, ‘It’s quality of
life, stupid’.
It is maddening that there are those who still consider even
the mere discussion of Irish Unity to be ‘controversial’ or ‘divisive’.
The Good Friday Agreement sets out the right to seek
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introduction
constitutional change via democratic means – it is a legitimate
aspiration and one that all of us across the island should be
open to discussing. In fact, the whole debate on Irish Unity can
be justified by pointing to that recognition, as evidence that the
constitutional conversation is allowed and should be respected,
if not welcomed, by all.
The discussion of how and when we can achieve reunification
is also one of how we can live as harmoniously as possible
in a society that respects and celebrates its diversity. Our people
must be able to live well – to learn, earn a decent living, engage
with culture, and feel safe in and proud of their communities.
I’m not talking about vague concepts; I’m talking about
practical issues: How do we provide good education for our
children and young people? How do we ensure affordable
housing for everyone? How do we grow and support our economy?
How do we address the climate crisis? To these questions
I give the answer: Irish Unity.
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to build a nation
that delivers for all its citizens. The only way to achieve this
is by putting in place governmental structures which are both
efficient and effective. The Irish government must take on the
extensive planning to both adequately prepare for and successfully
implement reunification.
Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the Stormont Assembly to
take on the brunt of the task. While perhaps well-intentioned,
Stormont has simply never been able to operate effectively and
has, to our national embarrassment, been suspended multiple
times since its creation in 1998.
There are many who call for planning to be undertaken
before a unity referendum is called. This I agree with wholeheartedly.
Proper planning is crucial, which I why I published
my first book, Irish Unity: Time to Prepare. This is how we can
avoid the chaos of Brexit, where almost a decade after the vote,
people are still unclear about what it all actually meant. We are
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the irish unity dividend
fortunate that there are numerous academics across Ireland,
Britain and the usa who are now exploring both the planning
required for and the benefits derived from the reunification
of Ireland.
We know that a referendum is on people’s minds – Northern
Ireland is more nationalist than ever before. Analysis of electoral
results in Northern Ireland reveals that when voters who
vote for non-aligned parties (namely Alliance and Greens) are
incorporated into nationalist or unionist blocs, there is already
a nationalist majority. 2
This reunification process will be complex and lengthy, and
it will vastly affect every one of us on this small island. But
I believe that the ends will justify the means. There will be benefits
for every citizen, from Slemish to Skibbereen, Downpatrick
to Dingle.
It is imperative that we choose the best way to deliver services
and create opportunities for everyone who lives on the
island of Ireland. In Northern Ireland we are effectively paying
a segregation tax due to the duplication of services, which is
costing the region £1.5 billion a year. In fact, if we take the
island of Ireland as a whole, we are paying a partition tax by
having: two health services, two police forces, two legal systems,
two education systems, multiple government departments
with overlapping remits, and an energy system which is not
fully integrated. By removing this partition, we can end these
barriers within Ireland and the money we save can be invested
back into our public services, educating our young people, and
providing much needed affordable housing.
On a range of metrics, including living standards, child
poverty, human rights, third level education, and the Henley
Passport Index, the Republic of Ireland is now ahead of the
uk. 3 It is therefore perhaps no surprise that the number of people
from Northern Ireland applying for first-time Irish passports
continues to increase.
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introduction
According to research by Remote, a business which supports
companies hiring global talent, Ireland is the second-best
country in the world for quality of life, whereas the uk is only
15th 4 . Those living in the Republic have more disposal income
and there are significantly less people in the Republic than
Northern Ireland living in poverty 5 . By rather grim comparison,
British household income growth at the start of 2024 was at
the worst level since the 1950s. 6 What’s worse, the Resolution
Foundation has predicted that British household income will
remain stagnant or fall in the 2025 tax year. 7
So, clearly, now is the time. Yet Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland Hilary Benn has said that the criteria for the
calling of a border poll have not been met. How can he explain
that? If he is certain of that view, then logically he must have
criteria which he is using to make that judgment. Therefore,
the British government should publish what those criteria are –
nobody should have anything to fear by ensuring transparency
on this matter.
The Irish government should formally request this – they
cannot be bystanders in this matter. They should privately indicate
what they consider to be reasonable criteria for the calling
of a border poll. If the British government refuses to confirm
the criteria or simply stonewall the request, then the Irish government
should publicise their suggested criteria, after consultation
with the usa and the European Union.
We will always be at the risk of a political party, parties or
other outside interests seeking to put barriers between North and
South, while partition of the island exists. Irish Unity will help
to ensure that we have harmonisation across Ireland, and that
we also move towards a full integration of services. Integration
is not assimilation. This doesn’t mean centralisation or regional
imbalance; it means that we construct and deliver public services
in a co-ordinated, efficient and effective manner across all
of Ireland.
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the irish unity dividend
For the whole island of Ireland, there are simultaneously
many challenges we must face and many opportunities we must
grasp. The best way for us to deal with these challenges and
secure a successful outcome is by fully integrating one national
government for all the island. This is not an abstract discussion,
it is a practical consideration of how we ensure that our
citizens have access to good public services, can benefit from a
thriving economy, and live within a vibrant and diverse society.
The key thing will be ensuring that we implement the right
approach to achieve the maximum benefit for everyone. This
must involve respecting and safeguarding each person’s cultural
heritage.
The beauty of the Good Friday Agreement was that you
could be Irish, British or both. And border or not, we were
all part of the European Union. Brexit ended all of that. The
sobering reality that we were pulled out of the eu against our
will shows, in a visceral way, that if we want to control our
destiny across Ireland, then we need to be separated from the
sinking ship that is the United Kingdom.
The Good Friday Agreement states that it is for the people
of Ireland alone to decide our future – that is what selfdetermination
is all about. If the uk is truly a voluntary union
of equals, then we in Northern Ireland should be able to exercise
that right and let our people decide their future.
Ireland’s place in the European single market or indeed its
membership of the European Union should not be questioned.
I know there are Brexiteers in the uk who wish for the collapse
of the eu. One, I do not think that is going to happen; two, it
is not for people in Britain to decide what happens across the
continent, or in Ireland. You can have your Brexit, let us have
our European future.
As a result of Brexit, a shambolic Conservative government,
and the concerning rise of the far-right, British politics is now
inherently unstable and increasingly reactionary. The Labour
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introduction
government, elected in July 2024, is undoubtedly better than
the previous Conservative mess, which caused chaos on a daily
basis. Even so, to my dismay, Keir Starmer and his team have
indicated that they will not reverse Brexit. In fact, Starmer has
gone as far to say that he doesn’t think Britain will rejoin the
European Union in his lifetime. 8
Starmer has also stated that he cannot envisage the circumstances
in which Britain would rejoin the Single Market or
Customs Union. Despite a change in tone, he either cannot or
will not fundamentally change Britain’s relationship with the
eu after Brexit; he is either unwilling or unable to substantially
renegotiate the terms 9 of the Brexit deal with the eu.
Starmer’s government, like its predecessor, has also staked
its reputation on reducing inward migration. But as Ireland
is an island with a fast-growing economy, we need migrants
to continue to work in our health system, to bring new ideas
and different cultures which will help make our island more
diverse. Like any country with inward migration and a vibrant
economy, there are challenges. There is a need to acknowledge
people’s concerns and to address them, while standing
firm that immigration can be and has been a positive thing for
our island.
The Irish government should publicly state that Irish
Unity is a political objective, not just an aspiration, as former
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested at an Ireland’s Future
event in Belfast. 10 By making this commitment, momentum can
build and preparations for the vote can begin. The British government
will undoubtably be reluctant to progress the unity
agenda until it is certain that the Irish government wants to
do so.
All of the major political parties in the Republic set out their
commitment to Irish Unity in the recent Dáil elections. Steps to
be taken to prepare for reunification were also included, which
is to be welcomed if we want to avoid the chaos of Brexit.
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the irish unity dividend
The call by the Good Friday Implementation Committee in the
Oireachtas, which is cross-party, to start preparations now for
reunification is an important step. 11
The campaign group Ireland’s Future have been explicit in
their desire and expectation of a border poll taking place in
2030. While there can be a range of views on when the referendum
is likely to take place, it is apparent that the next set
of elections in Northern Ireland will be key. As Kevin Meagher
has stated, there will be Northern Ireland Assembly elections
in 2027, Northern Ireland local government elections currently
also due in 2027 and Westminster elections are likely in 2029.
Based on the current trends, the results from these elections are
likely to play a defining role in the timeline for when a vote
on reunification is held. 12 The Good Friday Agreement states
that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (on behalf of
the British government) shall direct the holding of a border
poll if it appears likely that the majority of those voting would
express a wish for Northern Ireland to leave the uk and join
with the rest of the island to form a United Ireland 13 .
The increasing frequency of the debate is important as the
more that we discuss the practicalities of Irish Unity, the better
prepared we will be for the coming referendum. We will also be
better positioned to ensure that we maximise the benefits which
will flow from reunification. That is the Irish Unity Dividend.
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