title: Ethical approval for national studies in Ireland: an illustration of current challenges.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ethical approval of research projects is, appropriately, an essential prerequisite in health settings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper outlines difficulties encountered with procedures for gaining ethical approval for two multicentre surveys in Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experiences of two national surveys were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Delays in processing ethics applications led to substantial delays in both surveys. Research ethics committees (RECs) assessed applications in an idiosyncratic manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Ireland, there is currently no accepted mechanism for single location ethical approval for multicentre studies. Instead, they require separate approval from all participating centres. The challenges of this system of application to multiple committees are outlined in this paper, and possible solutions presented.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research Centre, Department of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De La Harpe
mesh_terms: D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital; D003625:Data Collection; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D026724:Ethical Review; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000941:ethics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000941:ethics; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement