EVERY WEEKDAY evening, TheJournal.ie brings you five things you need to know around this time…

1. #ESB The government has announced that it intends to sell-off a minority stake in the ESB following discussions at cabinet level. The decision was announced by communications minister Pat Rabbitte in the Dáil today. The union representing workers at ESB has said it intends to ballot members on industrial action over the decision.

2. #OIREACHTAS The first day back in the Dáil also saw the first suspension of the new season with Waterford TD John Halligan suspended following a row with the Ceann Comhairle. Meanwhile, Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was asked to remove his county’s colours from his car when on the grounds of Leinster House.

3. #BAILOUT Good news from Europe with the European Commission reducing the interest rate charged on its third of Ireland’s bailout loans. The loans amount to some €22.5 billion which Ireland gets from the European Financial Stability Mechanism.

4. #KABUL NATO and US forces in Afghanistan says that an attack in Kabul which began yesterday has left 27 dead — including Afghan police, civilians and insurgents. The stand-off with insurgents lasted 20-hours and only finished earlier this morning.

5. #WEATHERGIRL Popular weather forecaster Jean Byrne has been awarded a top honour from the European Meteorological Society. Byrne, a regular face on RTÉ’s weather broadcasts, will receive the award in Berlin tomorrow.