EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you the five news stories you need to know before you hit the road.

1.#NEW JOB: Fine Gael TD Frances Fitzgerald has been appointed as the new Minister for Justice after Alan Shatter’s resignation, with Charlie Flanagan TD stepping up to take over her old role as Minister for Children. The Taoiseach is to take over as Minister for Defence.

2. #ALLEGATIONS: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan has told the Dáil about a series of grave allegations made by a new garda whistleblower, including how people were asked to sell drugs to undercover gardaí to boost crime detection figures.

3. #TRAGEDY: A toddler has died following a a tractor accident close to his home in the village of Killeagh in east Cork. The death is being treated as a tragic accident.

4. #CHARITY: The CRC has announced its new board of governors – none of whom will be paid –  as the organisation attempts to rebuild its reputation in the wake of the scandal over charitable funds being used to pay salaries.

5. #AUSTRALIA: A 29-year-old Irish man has been found dead in Australia, just one day after he pleaded guilty to causing damage at a Melbourne hotel. The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing assistance to his family.