A call has been made for a referendum on information rights and privacy for children who have been separated from their parents and families.

TDs and senators on the Oireachtas Children’s Committee heard a call from the Adoption Loss/Natural Parents Network of Ireland for a referendum on the right to information being more important than privacy, for children who were separated through adoption, fostering or residential care settings.

The committee is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny of the Birth Information and Tracing Bill, which would see a right to access birth certificates, birth and early life information for people who have questions in relation to their origins or identity, and also all people who were adopted or boarded out.