Children's Minister Katherine Zappone says there has been no agreement on the issue of releasing birth information for adopted people.

She said despite everyone involved making "significant efforts to reach consensus", it has not proved possible to reach agreement at this time.

Over the past number of years, the minister has consulted on numerous occasions with the Office of the Attorney-General.

Legal advice for the Adoption (Information & Tracing) Bill states that there must be "some protection of birth parents' constitutional right to privacy" reflected in the legislation.

This advice is contrary to the desire of advocates for unrestricted access to identity information and to birth certificates.

She said she has held briefings and consultations with Oireachtas members, the Collaborative Forum and stakeholder groups regarding four possible options on legislative ways forward.

Minister Zappone said she considers it "prudent and necessary" for other important issues to be progressed.

She intends to move forward with an option which has received support from the majority of those consulted.

This provides for the safeguarding of records, the National Adoption Contact Preference Register to be put on a statutory footing, and tracing for the purposes of reunion/contact.

Minister Zappone said: "After a period of intensive briefings and consultations I am pleased to be in a position to progress these important elements that will impact positively on the services provided to adoptees, their birth families and their wider families who are seeking contact with each other.

"The revisions to the bill that I am now proposing to pursue will mean that important personal adoption and related records will be transferred to the Adoption Authority of Ireland to be appropriately safeguarded.

"Offences will be created for anyone found to have destroyed, concealed, altered or falsified a record.

"To compliment this, the current National Adoption Contact Preference Register will be put on a robust statutory footing.

"This register provides an invaluable service to those seeking contact and this will ensure its effectiveness and most importantly, its compliance with data protection requirements.

"For those whose relatives do not register a preference for contact, an application can be made to Tusla to trace that person for the purposes of contact/reunion."