Batt O'Keeffe's casually misleading approach to statistics make him entirely unsuitable to be a government minister. Shortly after his appointment, he had to withdraw figures he had released which purported to show that the reintroduction of third-level fees would generate €530m in revenue for the exchequer. The actual figure was €130m.
Last week, O'Keeffe (above) announced that 12,500 teachers were absent on sick leave on Mondays last year. A few hours later, he had to withdraw that figure too. For the record, there were a total of 59,992 uncertified sick days last year, about one per teacher. It's hardly a crisis.
Diarmuid Doyle - Statistically challenged O'Keeffe entirely unsuited to be a minister
- Published: 22 November 2008
Source : Sunday Tribune
