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Vote Environment: Output Class: Bioethics Council
This output class enables the effective operation of the Bioethics Council. The Bioethics Council is a Ministerial Advisory Committee. Its role is to:
- provide independent advice to government on biotechnological issues involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions
- promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council's activities.
- provide public information on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology.
Performance measures
Outputs in this class were provided within the appropriated sum and within the timeframes as specified in the Estimates (unless otherwise stated). Performance measures were specified for each output as appropriate.
Drafting instructions were completed subject to timeframes set in the Government's Legislative Programme.
All outputs were delivered to the Ministers' specifications. Orders in Council and regulations were intra vires and in accordance with principal statutes.
Resources employed
|
Actual |
Actual |
Main estimates |
Supplementary estimates |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Revenue: |
||||
|
1,333 |
Crown |
1,333 |
1,333 |
1,333 |
|
1,333 |
Total revenue |
1,333 |
1,333 |
1,333 |
|
551 |
Total expenses |
1,326 |
1,333 |
1,333 |
|
782 |
Net surplus |
7 |
0 |
0 |
Review of output achievements
Support the work of the Bioethics Council
Achieved. One of the key terms of reference for the Bioethics Council is to "promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council's activities". The secretariat put together a programme of 18 one day dialogue events and 12 one day hui throughout New Zealand on the issue of 'human genes in other organisms'. As well as the dialogue events and hui we provided a written submission process and held an on-line discussion. The secretariat analysed the submissions and on-line discussion and presented the analysis on the Council's website.
Participants were invited to reflect the diversity of New Zealand's population and to ensure those with an interest in the issue of human genes in other organisms had an opportunity to take part. The hui and dialogue events were independently facilitated.
The project employed a range of advertising tools, such as print, radio and internet to promote awareness of the issue.
In conjunction with the Council we have completed a report to the Minister for the Environment which expresses the Council's views on 'human genes' in other organisms and the process of dialogue. The report will be published in hard copy and made available on the Council's website.
Contribute to the development of a Biotechnology Strategy for New Zealand
Achieved. The Ministry is represented on the Senior Officials Biotechnology Taskforce. This is made up of representatives from government departments and ministries that report to Ministers who have biotechnology as part of their portfolio. This group meets regularly throughout the year to enable a whole of government approach to biotechnology and to advise the Biotechnology Minister's group on developments in biotechnology.
Ministry officials are part of an advisory group established by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MoRST) to explore how policy might be developed in the area of future watch. This group is developing a framework which will enable identification of key issues for future developments in biotechnology and assessment of their political, economic and social impacts.
Ministry officials are members of the State Services Future Practitioner's Forum. The forum brings together senior officials from diverse government agencies. It provides opportunities to exchange views and present recent research on future watch and future strategies developments, and how these relate to policy settings in New Zealand.
They are also represented on a Foundation for Research Science and Technology (FoRST) reference group developing a new portfolio on enhancing New Zealand's economic growth through biotechnology.
Additionally, they are working with FoRST and MoRST on the Foundations for Success Workshop on nanotechnology.
