Aontú leader Peadar Tóibin has said that his party wants an immigration policy based on both compassion and common sense.
Speaking at the party's Ard Fheis in Maynooth, Co Kildare, Mr Tóibin said that the Government needs to consult with local communities.
"The lack of consultation, is actually making a petri dish of rumour that's causing difficulties," he said.
"It's allowing for bad actors to use what's happening across the country for their own particular reasons."
Health, housing and the cost of living are among the issues on the agenda at the Aontú party conference, where 400 delegates are in attendance.
Expressing concern over aggressive rhetoric on the topic of immigration, Mr Tóibín said the Government has failed to consult with communities.
He said a respectful debate on immigration is required, otherwise discourse will be dominated by more extreme groups.
Mr Tóibín said there was a buoyant mood at the Ard Fheis which he attributed to the party's success at the recent referendum.
He argued that Aontú's 'no-no' position on the referendums was evidence that the party is listening to the electorate, adding: "Aontu is not just the main opposition against the Government but also against some of the opposition parties as well."
He said the party had 63 local election candidates and three candidates for the European parliament elections.
Mr Tóibín himself is running in the Midlands North West constituency.
Mr Tóibín said there was no doubt that Aontú was "very close to a break through" in both elections, because his party was "focused on bread and butter issues when the political establishment has been distracted by the culture wars".
"In terms of housing, in terms of health, in terms of regional development, in farming, in crime, in cost of living crisis, it's Aóntu that has been putting the focus on these issues while the Government has been lost in their bubble," he said.
Since the family and care referendums in March, the Aontú party has seen a 25% increase in its membership, up to approximately 2,000 people.
Asked about the UK Legacy Bill, Mr Tóibín said this was a bill of shame and "literally allows people to get away with murder".
He said it was designed by the Conservative party so that the British Government did not have to answer for their actions.
It was "only through the truth that we can seek closure", Mr Tóibín said.
Additional reporting by Joan O'Sullivan
