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Thu 05 May 2004McDowell accepts FG proposal on tendering by tribunal counselThe Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, yesterday accepted in principle a Fine Gael proposal to introduce "competitive tendering" for lawyers appearing at tribunals in an attempt to bring down the cost of such inquiries.Mr McDowell is expected to bring forward an amendment to the Commissions of Investigation Bill shortly which Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr Jim O'Keeffe, said yesterday would "radically reduce the amounts being paid to barristers and solicitors by the taxpayers of this country". The Bill proposes to introduce a less expensive form of inquiry as an alternative to the current tribunals.