Former Tánaiste Joan Burton has called for the Government to lift the veil of secrecy on birth details and adoptions to allow people access their personal histories.

The revelation that potentially thousands of people may have had their births falsified so they could be illegally adopted may have profound legal consequences — including for inheritance rights.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone will hold talks with opposition parties in a bid to ensure a law allowing adopted people to trace their birth parents is passed by the end of the year.