Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In regard to legal costs, I explained to Emma DeSouza yesterday that for the Irish Government to essentially fund a legal case in another jurisdiction for an Irish citizen would set a precedent that, as I think she understands, would create difficulties. Therefore, while we want to support Emma and Jake DeSouza, I believe the best way we can do that is through political influence and conversation with the British Government.

My relationship with the Secretary of State, Julian Smith, is very good. I know this is a decision that may well be taken by other Cabinet members in the British Government. Certainly, there was the commencement of a review mechanism under then Prime Minister May and we would like to see that review concluded and providing a successful outcome. While I do not think the Irish Government should be prescribing how the British Government does this, certainly, the Irish Government, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, has a responsibility to make sure people who were born in Northern Ireland and want to be considered as Irish should not be prevented from accessing entitlements and rights that everyone in Northern Ireland should be able to access as a result of that identity. We will continue to pursue this issue until it gets resolved.

See this speech in context