The possibility of a referendum to give adopted children access to their birth records has been raised.

Briefing documents drawn up for Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman reveal newly emerging cases of illegal birth registrations.

They also signal a referendum may be needed to give adopted people access to information on their birth.

Recent attempts have failed to balance the competing rights of privacy and information to allow full access to records be granted.

In 2018 it emerged that 126 births between 1946 and 1969 had been deliberately and falsely registered, with the names of the adoptive parents incorrectly recorded as the birth parents. That figure has now risen to 151.

“It is understood that there is a high likelihood that a number of High Court proceedings will be taken by individuals affected by illegal registration, and a number of cases have now been instigated,” the note says.

“The impact of being informed that they were the subject of an illegal birth registration has had a considerable impact on many individuals’ wellbeing, and the State’s duty of care should be considered in relation to any future cases. In particular, in some cases, individuals have been informed that they were the subject of an illegal birth registration, but as their birth mother does not consent to the release of her information, they can be told no more.”