The Taoiseach has defended the Citizens' Convention on abortion - saying it's "not a black and white issue".

Enda Kenny was responding to criticism from pro-choice TDs - six of whom wore black-and-white jumpers bearing the 'REPEAL' slogan in the Dáil chamber.

The convention is due to hold its first meetings on the subject of repealing the 8th amendment in three weeks' time.

Deputy Ruth Coppinger told the Taoiseach that protestors last Saturday want the clause removed, not simply amended again.

But the Taoiseach says it's important to sound out the issue further - comparing the jumpers to the issue itself:

Coppinger had told the Dáil that those who took part in last Saturday's 'March for Choice' in Dublin and beyond did not want the 8th Amendment to be amended further, but to be scrapped entirely:

The jumper appeared to attract the attention of the broadcasting unit responsible for choosing cameras in the Dail chamber.

During later exchanges, People Before Profit's Brid Smith - who was one of the six wearing the jumper - questioned the Taoiseach during the Order of Business.

But an unusual choice of camera meant the slogan on her jumper could not be readily seen:

Queries were then raised about whether the jumpers constituted a breach of the house's dress code.

Fine Gael's Ciaran Cannon remarked that a previous school tour had been removed from the house because they wore shirts with the logo of the 'ClassDojo' computer programming initiative.

But the Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghail appeared to give the green light to the garments, saying the Dáil's rules only forbade emblems 'of a party political nature'.