asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to reports concerning the recent sighting of a submarine off the Cork coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Submarine Sighting.
12.
Reports have been received in my Department regarding the alleged sighting of a submarine off the Cork coast recently. The reports, while not claiming positive identification of the object seen as a submarine, seem to indicate that such a vessel was in our territorial waters on the night of 29th March, 1974. There was no subsequent observation of it and the available information is not sufficient to sustain any particular line of inquiry.
I noted a Press report this morning of the possible sighting of another submarine off Clonakilty. My information is that, by a coincidence, the Naval Service had patrolled the area before the event was reported and returned and patrolled it again. It is unlikely that the object sighted was a submarine as the water in that particular area is shallow, too shallow for a submerged submarine of any size, and the sighting was alleged to be a sighting of a periscope trail, which would mean that the submarine would itself be taking up even more water, or a greater depth of water, if it were submerged. However, the Naval Service will pursue the matter to the utmost.
It might have been the tip of an iceberg.