The government has been urged to change the laws which prevent adopted people from accessing their birth records.

It comes from the Philomena Project who have the backing of Philomena Lee - whose 50 year search for her son is now a book and Oscar-nominated film.

The group say over 60,000 records are being held by the Health Service Executive (HSE), Catholic Church and private agencies that hold the identities of these people.

Lee inspired the highly acclaimed 'Philomena', which is based on the book by journalist Martin Sixsmith.

She launched the programme in association with the Adoption Rights Alliance in Dublin. The project is calling for access to adoption records for both in-country and Irish-US adoptions.

Both Philomena Lee and author Martin Sixsmith attended the launch.

Ms. Lee says the book and film has brought the subject into the open.

Pictured above: Philomena Lee (right) with her daughter in Dublin