Insufficient attention is being paid to the skills required by State boards when appointments are being made, Institute of Directors in Ireland has found. Its research, based on a survey of 45 directors holding board or senior management positions in State bodies, highlighted “issues regarding transparency” in the appointments process.

Almost half said they believed their board does not have the right mix of skills to achieve the agreed strategy of the organisation over the next three to five years.

“It is particularly telling that those already appointed to State boards are vocal in their criticism of the method under which they themselves were appointed,” said Maura Quinn, chief executive of the institute.