THE Buckley report or, to give it its proper name, the report of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, is a considered and well thought-out document. However, the Margin sees several shades of past events lurking among the pages.

One such example was the complaint by the chairman of one State company that he had not been consulted about the appointment of seven new directors.

The report makes no bones about certain practices used in appointing people to boards in the past. "It was suggested that the experience and expertise of the persons concerned were not always the primary determinants and that party political considerations continue to play an important part in the selection process."

Judging by a few recent appointments, however, party political considerations continue to loom large in filling State boards.