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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Apr 1989

Vol. 389 No. 2

Written Answers. - Submarine Accident.

84.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the information which has been obtained from the United States government regarding the serious accident of the United States submarine, Nathaniel Greene in the south Irish Sea in 1986; if the Government has established whether any nuclear radiation was released; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

When my Department became aware of the incident involving the USS Nathaniel Greene in the Irish Sea in March 1986, the US authorities were immediately asked to provide the fullest possible information on the reported grounding of a US nuclear submarine in the Irish Sea. According to this information the USS Nathaniel Greene suffered grounding while submerged in the Irish Sea, on 13 March 1986, more than 16 nautical miles off the Irish coast. According to the same information, having freed herself under her own power she made her way to Holy Loch naval station for inspection. In response to our request, the US authorities informed us that there were no personal injuries that the vessel's hull was not punctured and that damage to the submarine did not affect its nuclear propulsion plant. There has been no evidence to suggest that the accident resulted in any radio-active pollution of the environment.

The USS Nathaniel Greene has now been scrapped.

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