The Government has declined to comment on Iranian media reports that an Irish citizen is among the people being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Iranian state media claimed that secret negotiations are taking place over the release of the hostage.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin spoke to Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian over the weekend.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told BreakingNews.ie: "The Department of Foreign Affairs is working to ensure all Irish citizens are able to leave Gaza as soon as possible. We are not in a position to comment on the detail of individual cases - it would not be helpful to do so."
Speaking from South Korea, where he is on a State visit, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he had not been briefed on reports of an Irish citizen being held by Hamas.
Irish passport holder Ayman Shaheen is within 700 metres of the Rafah border crossing and is hopeful that he, his wife and teenage children will get to leave Gaza soon.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr Shaheen, who lived in Dublin for nine years with his family, said: “I actually am very close to the Egyptian border now. I am talking to you and I can see the Egyptian border. It is 700 metres away.”
Mr Shaheen said he had been receiving regular updates from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“They told me the Rafah crossing for today is open, but it is not for Irish passport holders. It is for a certain number of nationals, and it will be country by country within the coming days.”
Asked if he was nervous about waiting, Mr Shaheen said his personality was “a bit cool”, although, “things are really bad”. - Additional reprting from Vivienne Clarke
