US embassy cable - 05DUBLIN671

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