Mr. Terry Allen:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to interact with it today on our underwater heritage. As I circulated a statement earlier on the Lusitania, I will now briefly outline the general framework for looking after underwater archaeology. The relevant legislation, which comprised a new national monuments code at the time, was introduced in 1987 to give automatic protection to all shipwrecks over 100 years old and to allow similar protections to be extended to newer wrecks of particular historical significance, as well as to underwater archaeological objects. Following a subsequent pilot study of shipwrecks around the coast in the late 1990s, which highlighted the need to properly quantify this aspect of our cultural heritage, a dedicated underwater archaeology unit was set up in the Department's national monuments service in the year 2000. There are three main strands to this unit's work in protecting underwater archaeology. The first consists of the development of an archive of information on shipwrecks. That is the wreck inventory of Ireland database. The second is undertaking on-site dive surveys, excavations and monitoring of archaeological sites as required. The third is developing mitigation measures on development impacts. The current round of OPW flood prevention schemes is a very good case in point because they involve a very significant disturbance of riverbeds around the country. To date, the unit has built up a database of 18,000 shipwrecks and has completed numerous surveys and excavations at site ranging from Bronze Age log boats to 16th and 17th-century trading vessels and warships. Through the planning process, the underwater archaeology unit advises on development proposals that may affect underwater archaeology, for example proposed works on the foreshore or aquaculture proposals.

Most relevant to today's business, the unit assesses applications for licences to dive or investigate protected wrecks, including the Lusitania. The Lusitaniais privately owned but is subject to an underwater heritage order made under the 1987 Act because of its historical importance. The most recent dive licence issued for the wreck, which was last year, included 20 detailed conditions and it allowed the owner to raise the ship's telegraph which he intends to put on display in a local museum. The licence reflected the formal memorandum of understanding that is in place between the Department and the owner of the wreck to facilitate our greater mutual co-operation and collaboration. The owner is particularly interested in researching the cause of the second explosion that caused the ship to sink 18 minutes after the original strike. The licence also recognised the unique and extensive knowledge of the wreck site by the person undertaking the dive, the particular hazards and difficulties involved and also the fact that the nature and location of the artefact that was to be brought up was known and that it had previously been filmed on the seabed. Under this particular licence, which is the last activity undertaken on the wreck, a number of significant recoveries were made, which will ultimately go on display in a new museum planned for the Old Head of Kinsale.