The Minister for Justice has said he intends to focus on "comprehensive reform" of the tribunals legislation following a report by the Law Reform Commission which makes a series of recommendations on the current system.
Mr McDowell welcomed the report of the commission, which he said was "very timely", particularly in light of the Government's decision last July to amend tribunal legislation to control the "spiralling" costs.
Speaking at the launch of the Law Reform Commission report, the minister said that while the report did not comment on the specific level of fees which the Government had determined would be payable, it was "clear that the Commission has reservations on the general approach being taken".
Mr McDowell said that costs associated with the tribunals needed to be controlled was evidenced by the fact that the tribunals had cost in excess of €190 million to the end of last year, of which almost €140 million related to legal costs.
Mr McDowell said he would bring a proposal to Government "in the very near future" to concentrate efforts on comprehensive reform of the tribunals legislation rather than on a further amending Bill.
"I do not believe that this approach will unduly delay the process of reform," he said.
The report recommends, among other things, that as tribunals are "designed to investigate facts" rather than to punish people, that those with the power to establish such inquiries should "give careful consideration to the public interest in the matter under examination before deciding to establish an inquiry".
It also recommends the law be amended so that the events to be inquired into are set out "as clearly and as accurately as possible".
The commission also says that "in appropriate cases" witnesses my either be issued with "notices" of potential criticism or be re-called in order to address potential criticism that has come to light since they gave evidence.