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