A new anti immigrant political party is being set up in Ireland.

The  Irish National Party (INP), is dedicated to the "immediate deportation of all illegal immigrants and asylum seekers who have had their applications rejected."

Its website says Irish culture and identity is being eroded, with "record levels of immigration and an influx of so-called 'asylum seekers'... leading to the development of minority communities in our cities and increasing levels of social isolation in our towns and villages."

The Sunday Tribune reports that the website warns of the "increasing threat to traditional Irish values," and only allows Irish-born citizens to join.

David Barrett, chairman of the new organization, claims it opposes racism and is not "anti-immigrant."

"[We] rather seek to establish greater control over the immigration process. We recognize there is and always will be a need for some level of immigration but believe a more vigorous system needs to be put in place," he said.

"We wish to see Irish identity preserved but do not believe this is possible with, for example, mass immigration or membership of an increasingly powerful European Union," he said.

They say they have had  "increasing numbers of visitors to the website and [a] similar rise in membership inquiries."

"At the last count, we had received nearly 200 membership inquiries and we are currently in the process of arranging our first meeting," he said.

“It is our intention to register as a political party once we have met the requirements, although the party may choose to register under a different name based on the decision taken by members at our first meeting.

"It would be our intention to run candidates in all up­coming elections. We acknowledge that many of our core values and proposed policies are a break from those of the established political parties but are optimistic that this will attract voters."