EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING,TheJournal.ie brings you five things you really should know before heading out the door…

1. #BANK OF IRELAND: The Government has concluded the sale of €1bn worth of BoI shares to a North American-Canadian consortium. This reduces the role of the State in the banking sector somewhat but Social Justice Ireland told the EC, ECB, IMF troika today that the burden of the bailout is being borne by the most vulnerable.

2. #ENERGY: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Pat Rabbitte has confirmed that 13 new licences have been granted for the exploration of oil and gas reserves off the Irish coast.

3. #BURMA: Trade unions will be allowed to form in Burma for the first time in almost 50 years and they will be allowed to take industrial action – as long as they give 14 days’ notice.

4. #ILL WIND: A number of flights have been cancelled or diverted from Dublin Airport this afternoon over heavy winds crosswinds blowing hard on the capital. Met Éireann has a weather warning in effect, warning of heavy downpours and – eek – sleet.

5. #RACE FOR THE ÁRAS: David Norris ended the suspense over the “very important speech” he said in a tweet last night that he would be making today. The speech turned out to be criticism of the Keane report on mortgage arrears – but he also declared himself the “24-carat independent” candidate of the race.

Artist Niall O’Loughlin (cartoonireland.blogspot.com) tweeted us his take on the candidates today. Cheers Niall.