The National Office for Research Ethics Committees in Ireland is an independent office with a statutory function situated in the Health Research Board. We endeavour to deliver a robust and transparent system of national research ethics review in Ireland. We support and monitor the competent and timely ethical review of research studies by NRECs to protect the safety, dignity and wellbeing of research participants. Since the founding of the National Office in March 2020, we’ve supported the establishment and running of Ireland’s first national research ethics committee- the NREC COVID-19, an important part of Ireland’s research response to the pandemic. The National Office will support the establishment of a number of NRECs in prescribed health research areas of national strategic importance over time.