FURTHER FRICTION between the two coalition parties has been exposed after Fianna Fáil distanced itself from a Green Party proposal to create a new Constitutional crime of ‘economic treason’.

The Green Party had this morning introduced a new Bill to the Dáil, which if passed would amend the Constitution to create a new specific reference to crimes of ‘economic treason’.

The Bill was formally introduced to the Dáil by Trevor Sargent this morning, and would define ‘economic treason’ as “actions that result in reputational damage for the country, an unacceptable economic cost, or a loss of economic sovereignty for the State.”

The proposed amendment would also allow the government to create legislation applying the new definition retrospectively – meaning that anyone deemed to have fallen foul of the new definition could be pursued for their crimes, even though they were not constitutionally outlawed at the time.

This afternoon, however, a Fianna Fáil spokesperson commented that the bill was “a Green Party proposal” and implied that Fianna Fáil was pursuing its own methods of tackling “white collar crime”.

“Fianna Fáil in government are strengthening the laws,” the spokesperson said, and had “brought in better regulation for bankers”.

“The Credit Stabilisation Bill passed yesterday will restructure the banks to prevent any further financial risk-taking by our banks,” they went on.

But the spokesperson continued: “Any further strengthening of our laws will have to be practicable and achievable.”

The moves by the senior coalition partner to apparently distance itself from the Bill point to further tensions between the two parties as the clock winds down on their time in government.