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Cowen gets his numbers in a JO’K-er
Read more about: Economy, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Health
Fianna Fáil rightly pounced on Jim O’Keefe’s embarrassing muddle over crime statistics last week, but last night was the incumbent party’s turn to stumble under the media gaze.
In response to opposition claims that co-location would cost around half a billion, the normally sharp Brian Cowen said that the actual cost would be €70 million per year (which would be around €350 million over the life of the next Government, so not way off). This morning Fianna Fáil clarified the statement, saying that number should have been €40 million per year - a very big difference.
It may be indeed the case that Cowen didn’t slip up and simply revealed figures that Fianna Fáil HQ want kept under wraps for now, but either way it’s an embarrassing mistake.
The party shouldn’t worry too much, though. While O’Keefe’s mistake only served to compound fears over the inexperience of the Fine Gael front bench, Brian Cowen’s has the gravitas and public trust to shake this off as an unusual slip. With such little time to go until polling day it’s also unlikely that the opposition can use the whole thing to their advantage before the blackout kicks in.
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