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Vote Environment Output Class: Bioethics Council

This output class provides for the effective operation of the Bioethics Council. This Council is a ministerial advisory committee. Its role is to:

  • provide independent advice to Government on biotechnological issues involving 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.

All outputs were delivered to the Ministers’ specifications.

Resources employed

Actual
30/06/2006
$000

 

Actual
30/06/2007
$000

Main estimates
30/06/2007
$000

Supplementary estimates
30/06/2007
$000

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

1,117

Crown

1,333

1,333

1,333

6

Departmental

7

6

6

1,123

Total revenue

1,340

1,339

1,339

873

Total expenses

1,306

1,339

1,339

250

Net surplus

34

0

0

Review of output achievements

Provide administrative support and research material for the Bioethics Council

Achieved and ongoing. Feedback from the Council on the Ministry’s support is positive. The secretariat has provided the Bioethics Council with comments and frameworks for the Bioethics Council submissions to Select Committees and government ministries.

The secretariat participated in and presented at a number of national and international forums and continues to raise the profile of the Council. The secretariat assisted in organising eight focus groups on the cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of stem-cell research, the results of which will prepare the Bioethics Council for a large public dialogue on this issue. The feedback and focus groups were completed by 30 June 2007.

The secretariat produced a brochure for the Council’s upcoming project on pre-birth testing. Another 200 people and organisations were added to the database of those interested in the Council’s work and participating in the pre-birth testing project. In conjunction with evaluation organisations, the secretariat is developing a deliberative online forum for the pre-birth testing project and has designed an evaluation framework for testing the project’s success.

Lead the whole-of-government approach by coordinating government agencies able to contribute to the Council’s effectiveness

Achieved and ongoing. The secretariat regularly meets with officials from a range of government agencies. The Ministry hosted a one-day seminar on recent approaches to citizen engagement has been actively involved in assisting the formulation of the State Services Commission’s e-government guidelines.

Collaborate with similar international groups to procure relevant research information to assist the Council

Achieved. The secretariat established close links with researchers in Austria, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Asia and the United States of America.

Assist with the coordination of public dialogue and participation in Council activities

Achieved and ongoing. The secretariat is currently undertaking planning and implementation of the Bioethics Council’s public engagement processes project on pre-birth testing.

Support the Bioethics Council

  • Feedback from the Council on the Ministry’s support is positive

Achieved. The relationship between the Ministry and Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council and the possibility of a joint project has been an agenda item at two meetings between the Ministry’s Chief Executive and the Council’s Chair. The positive nature of the relationship is indicated in the minutes of the Council’s February 2007 meeting, which are available on the Council’s website.

  • Assist in organising eight focus groups on the cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of stem-cell research, the results of which will prepare the Bioethics Council for a large public dialogue on the issue

Achieved. Nine focus groups were organised on the topic of human embryo research. Human embryos are needed to conduct human embryonic stem cell research. An analysis of the focus group research is available on the Council’s website.

  • Feedback and focus groups to have been completed by 30 June 2007

Achieved. The analysis of the focus group research was completed by October 2006.

In addition the Ministry:

  • launched the Human Embryo Research information booklet on 24 July 2006

  • held the ‘Talking Embryos’ public seminar on 25 September 2006, attendance of approximately 275 individuals

  • completed the web-based dialogue on the use of embryos for research

  • trialled a new process for public engagement

  • conducted initial discussions on the Real People publication

  • Organised a day-long seminar on new approaches to engaging and deliberating with the public, attended by 35 people from central and local government, and NGOs.

The Council has:

  • contracted a Canadian company with specialist expertise in designing and conducting online deliberation

  • published a brochure on pre-birth genetic testing

  • made comments to the Ministry of Health on the Guidelines on Using Cells from Established Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines for Research

  • made a submission to the Ministry of Health on the discussion document and guidelines Guidelines on the Use of Human Tissue for Future Unspecified Research Purposes

  • made a submission to the Health Select Committee on the Human Tissue Bill

  • made a submission to the Ministry of Health ‘New Born Blood Spot cards: Consent, Storage and Use’.

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