Dr Bryan Fanning, of UCD's School of Applied Social Science, believes the position should be established to encourage immigrants and ethnic minorities to join political parties and integrate into Irish society.

Fanning made the call as he prepares to launch a book called Immigration and Social Change in the Republic of Ireland, later this week.

One aspect of immigration analysed in the book is the relationship between immigrants and the political process. The book looks at how a number of immigrants stood for election in the 2002 local elections and how political parties strived to invite them into politics.

Fanning believes that as most immigrants are not Irish citizens and cannot vote in the general election, political parties need to do more to integrate what amounts to 10% of the population into the political process in future.

The academic said: "While our political parties are positively pro-integration in their rhetoric, they need to think seriously about how to integrate them on a practical level.

"It is incumbent on parties to commit to this if we are to avoid the same mistakes that have been made in other countries.

"If we do not see an inclusion of immigrants in politics by the 2009 local elections we are setting ourselves up for a problem."

Fanning believes that political parties will be culpable if they do not reach out to immigrants. He has outlined his arguement in a recent study entitled, Irish Political Parties:

Immigration and Integration in 2007.

Fanning added: "A number of political parties have recommended the establishment of a minister for state with responsibility for Immigrant Affairs.

"I feel that it would be a good idea as it would give some much needed leadership to the integration of immigrants in our society.

"We need political parties to put new protocols in place that will encourage immigrants to join their parties as a reflection of modern Irish society."