2005 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000671 SIPDIS STATE FOR L/CID/JNICOL, EB/IFD/OIA/JPRPOSELI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIDE EINV PGOV EFIN SUBJECT: 2005 REPORT ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES AND EXPROPRIATION CLAIMS: REQUEST FOR EMBASSY INPUT: IRELAND REF: A. STATE 70014 ¶B. YOUNG-ROSELI E-MAIL OF 6/3/05 ¶1. Below is Post's submission pursuant to Section 527 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, requested ref A. There have been no substantive changes to last year's submission, as the case remains before the Irish High Court (ref B). (A) Claimant A (B) 1995 (C) The dispute involves the salvage rights of a United States citizen to the wreck of the Lusitania, an ocean liner sunk off Ireland's southern coast in 1915. In 1995, the GOI imposed a "Heritage Order" on the wreck site, designating it part of the national historic patrimony and giving the GOI's Heritage Service (Duchas) authority to regulate access to the site. Claimant A, the Lusitania's owner, has twice applied for and been denied access to the wreck on the grounds that the proposed exploration would threaten the vessel's preservation. In July 2001, Claimant A filed for judicial review of the ruling. The case came before the Irish High Court in November 2003, but there has been no judgment to date. Claimant A, who last discussed the case with Post on April 21, 2005, has estimated the Lusitania's value at USD 3-5 million. Claimant A: Gregg Bemis, a U.S. citizen. To Post's knowledge, Mr. Bemis has not signed a Privacy Act Waiver. KENNY