The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that gardaí "may be in a position" to charge Lisa Smith upon her return to Ireland.
Mr Varadkar was speaking today amid reports that the 38-year-old Dundalk woman and her two-year-old daughter could return home as early as this weekend.
The former Irish Defence Forces member travelled to Syria in 2016 to join the so-called Islamic State group.
Speaking to reporters at the count centre for Dublin Mid-West by-election today, Mr Varadkar said that it is anticipated that "two Irish citizens, Lisa Smith and her daughter, will return to Ireland this weekend".
He said: “Obviously, when it comes to her daughter, she's a child, she’s going to be protected and social services are ready to do that.”
"In relation to Lisa Smith, the gardaí are going to want to speak to her.
"They may be in a position to charge her and if they do, then prosecution may follow.
Ms Smith is being deported from Turkey the country began deporting foreign-born Islamic State members and sympathisers it captured during military operations in northern Syria in October.
Irish diplomats have been in talks with Turkey since earlier this month.
Speaking earlier today, the Tanaiste Simon Coveney said the priority for the return of Ms Smith to Ireland is her safety and that of her child.
He said there has been a lot of media speculation, some of which has bee inaccurate.
He said: "We've been working on this case for some time, and we remain in contact with the Turkish authorities - who've been very helpful in relation to this case.
"We'll have to wait and see how it develops."
