Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the latest estimates available to him of public order offences in Dublin and in the rest of the country. [32926/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Encounter, which commenced in February 2002, is a Garda initiative aimed at providing high visibility Garda foot patrols in areas where large numbers of people socialise late at night and in the early morning. It is aimed at dealing effectively with public order issues, especially problems associated with drunkenness, including sections 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994; under-age drinking, including the sale by or sale for under-age persons; and assaults contrary to sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. I am further informed that in excess of 284,000 offences have been detected to date during the ongoing Operation Encounter.