The European Commission says it “regrets” the leaking of a draft document on Irish progress in implementing the bailout deal.

The document is scathing in criticism of the Health Minister over budget over-runs.

It also suggests ending the automatic entitlement to a medical card for those out of work.

The document also questions if dole should be cut the longer you are unemployed.

This follows a similar incident in November 2011 in which the European Commission apologised after a confidential document discussing the Irish VAT rate was leaked.

It made suggestions in relation to Budget 2012 and became public after it was presented to the Bundestag Finance Committee in Germany.

Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Páraic Gallagher is in Leinster House.

He says the source of the leak this time over previous ones could prove embarrassing for the Irish authorities.

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