The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin, has called for a full inquiry into the deaths at the mother and baby home in Tuam - and all mother and baby homes around the country.

Speaking on national radio Dr Martin called for a "full-bodied investigation," and said the question of adoption also needs to be looked at.

Amnesty International has also joined calls for an investigation into the burial of 796 children at the home in Tuam Co. Galway.

The remains of children, aged between two days and nine years, were found in a disused septic tank in County Galway.

Amnesty says the Tuam case should not be viewed in isolation, and called on the Government to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of women and children in other homes.

When The grave in Tuam was found 40 years ago, it was thought to be from the famine years, but a local historian's research found the children buried in the septic tank had died between 1925 and 1961.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he wants to know exactly what is the scale of the situation in Tuam and whether there are similar mass graves at other sites around the country.

Mr Kenny said he asked Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan to draw together a number of officials to see what was involved and whether it was an isolated incident.

The home was run by nuns of the Bon Secours Sisters for 36 years.

They have welcomed the government's announcement of an investigation into what happened.
The Archbishop of Tuam Dr Michael Neary has told Bon Secours nuns that they have a moral obligation to engage with an examination of how the children died and were buried in a mass grave.

A campaign group - "Justice for the Tuam Babies" - has been set up in the light of this shocking story which has received worldwide attention - they'll hold a vigil outside the Dail next Wednesday evening.