The family of a Dundalk woman, who is being held in Syria, has spoken to the Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney about her returning to Ireland.

Lisa Smith, former member of the Defence Forces, and her young son are being held at a camp in the country on suspicion of being a member of the so-called Islamic State.

Earlier, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said she has a right to return to Ireland.

He said removing their Irish citizenship would not be the right thing nor the compassionate thing to do.

He said: "As an Irish citizen, she will have the right to return to Ireland - as will her child who's an Irish citizen.

"But it's not just as simple as coming here, and everything proceeding as if nothing had happened.

"There will need to be an interrogation by the authorities there, and there may need to be a prosecution there."

He added: "We'll need to make sure if she does return to Ireland that she isn't a threat to anyone here either."

In a statement over the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs said there has been no recent request for consular assistance from any Irish citizen inside Syria.

They added: "It is not feasible at present for Irish consular officials to enter such a conflict zone.

"The Government has made clear that consular assistance, to which all Irish citizens are entitled, will be provided to them when it is possible to do so and where a request is made."

Ms Smith is believed to have left Ireland for Syria in 2015.

Main image: Tánaiste Simon Coveney in the courtyard of Government Buildings during an update on Brexit | Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Additional reporting: Kacey O'Riordan and Jack Quann