The latest Dáil debate on abortion descended into an abusive shouting match as another attempt was made to have the constitutional protection for the unborn repealed. As the chamber sought to deal with the motion for repeal brought by the Anti-Austerity Alliance/People Before Profit, accusations were cast on all sides, and one TD, Bríd Smith, produced what she said was an abortion pill and taunted opponents to have her arrested for its possession. Independent TDs who had previously campaigned for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment but now held to the Government line in opposing this were called ‘sell outs’ while reference was made also to the ‘Catholic Taliban’ lying behind Ireland’s protection of the unborn.