On Thursday at 6pm.

A live-streamed Zoom webinar will be held to discuss Covid-19 and vulnerable or marginalised groups.

The event will be chaired by Dr Ebun Joseph, race relations consultant, while the panel will comprise Dr Sindy Joyce, human rights activist and member of the Council of State (Ireland); Lucky Khambule, co-founder of MASI Movement for Asylum Seekers in Ireland; Dr Ronit Lentin, retired Associate Professor of Sociology at Trinity College Dublin; Teresa Buczkowska, Integration Manager at Immigrant Council of Ireland; and Dr Piaras Mac Éinrí, lecturer in Migration Studies at University College Dublin.

They write:

“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the coronavirus appeared to be an ‘equal opportunities’ virus that affected everyone in its path. Weeks into the lockdown in Ireland and around the world, we see marginalised and vulnerable communities in society most affected, exacerbated by underlying racism.

“While COVID 19 did not create racism and socioeconomic inequality, it has made the disparity in the Irish society between those at the top and bottom of the racial and economic ladder noticeable.

“This conversation in Ireland is to bring us together to discuss what we are observing locally and globally about the impact of COVID 19 on vulnerable groups.”

Register for the webinar here

Meanwhile…

This morning.

RTÉ’s Aisling Kenny reports:

Figures obtained by RTÉ News show there are 1,700 people in direct provision who are sharing a bedroom with one or two non-family members.

This is despite advice from Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, who said if someone is sharing sleeping quarters with people who are not part of the same family it is not possible to social distance.

Figures show that up to 30 April there were nine clusters of Covid-19 in direct provision centres across the country.

Concern over numbers sharing bedrooms in direct provision (RTÉ)

Related: Direct provision settings may be unlawful (Conall Ó Fátharta, The Irish Examiner)

Previously: No Room To Isolate

Forced Together