Included as part of the order organising the IRSN, the Ethics Commission reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for advising it on preparing ethical charters that are applicable to the Institute’s activities and for monitoring their application, including conditions at the Institute for distinguishing between assessment missions performed on behalf of government departments and those performed for public or private operators. It also serves as a mediator when problems of an ethical nature arise.
The Commission meets at least once a year. During meetings, it
- participates in preparing ethical charters,
- analyses their application,
- examines cases involving ethical matters submitted to it and prepares recommendations for measures to adopt, if required.
The Commission presents an annual report to the Board of Directors that gives the status of requests received by the President of the Board of Directors, directly or after consultation with the Board, or by the IRSN’s Director General and subsequent actions.
The Commission held its first meeting in April 2010 during which it was informed of the IRSN’s various missions and activities and examined the rules and obligations that the Institute has set to fulfil its mission. During future meetings, the Commission will consider a current review of ethical issues at IRSN and engage in discussions on a draft ethical charter for the IRSN.
Commission members as of 31 December 2010
Jean-Pierre DUPUY
Corps des Mines Engineer General, philosopher, professor at the École Polytechnique and Stanford University, California, and member of the French Academy of Technology.
Jean-Claude AMEISEN
Biologist, immunologist, professor of medicine at University of Paris Diderot and Bichat Hospital, – member of the French National Ethics Advisory Committee, Chairman of INSERM’s Ethics Committee.
Anne BERRIAT
Magistrate on the Council of State (Conseil d’Etat), took part in steering national sustainable development strategy (2003) and preparing the report on strengthening and structuring environmental policy.
Éric VINDIMIAN
Engineer General specializing in agricultural engineering, water and forests, Regional Director of CEMAGREF (French research institute for agricultural and environmental engineering), specialist in the impact of toxic substances on the environment and health and in assessing government environmental policies.