Séan Feeney, an IT Director, from Castleknock, Dublin 15. Pictured with his two-year-old son Aaron.
“The up and coming referendum on the Eighth Amendment essentially provides for the removal of the most fundamental human right – the right to life of a little baby.
“Repealing the Eighth Amendment will have a significant impact on the unborn, on mothers, on families and on society as a whole. Protecting the Eighth Amendment is a positive thing for Irish society because it protects the lives of both mother and baby equally.
“It is a scientific fact that the life of a little baby begins at the moment of conception. The heart starts beating at 21 days. By week 8, everything found in a fully grown person is formed. All that is needed is time to grow and develop. The biggest growth spurt in our lives takes place during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and we will never grow at that rate again.
“These gestational milestones are something that pro-choice advocates deny when they refer to the baby as a ‘foetus’ and a ‘blob of tissue’. Without the Eighth Amendment, an entire group of human beings will be denied their right to life. This is also a threat to the hope of society, as who knows the potential an unborn child could have when they are born?
“I am challenged on my views a lot because I am a man. I like to engage with my friends and encourage them to take part in this important debate. Some people feel I shouldn’t have an opinion. As a father, I say, we should all have a voice in this debate. It’s a family issue at heart.
“The existence of the Eighth Amendment has had a positive impact not only on women but also on men. I would encourage all men to speak out and express their views on this fundamental social topic.”