Flannery is included in an expanded 35-man party along with Ulster winger Tommy Bowe, who also missed the autumn internationals after suffering a hamstring injury.

Head coach Eddie OSullivan has called-up uncapped Leinster winger Robert Kearney and Munster centre Barry Murphy.

Leinster lock Trevor Hogan, who won his two Test caps against Japan in 2005, returns to the squad along with Munster second row Mick ODriscoll.

Stephen Ferris was not considered due to a hand injury, while Munster loose forward Alan Quinlan is suspended.

OSullivan said: The championship is a long and hard tournament that will always test your resources, so I felt that we needed to increase our squad to 35 to give us some extra cover.

We have a good injury profile at the moment and with the return of players from injury, such as Tommy Bowe and Jerry Flannery as well as the other additions to the squad, it will push up the competition levels.

While there are not many changes from November, the squad is always selected on form and this group reflects that.

Irish rugby is on a high after comprehensive victories over South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands during the autumn.

Their RBS 6 Nations campaign opens against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on February 4.

OSullivan added: We were pleased with how the Guinness Autumn Series went, but this tournament is a step up and we will have to raise our performances another level.

An away trip to the Millennium Stadium to play Wales is one of the toughest openings you could get at this moment in time and all we will be focusing on is trying to get the right performance against an excellent Welsh team.

Ireland squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship:

Forwards: N Best (Ulster), R Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster), S Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets), J Flannery (Munster), K Gleeson (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster), T Hogan (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), D OCallaghan (Munster), P OConnell (Munster), M ODriscoll (Munster), M OKelly (Leinster), F Sheahan (Munster), D Wallace (Munster), B Young (Ulster).

Backs: I Boss (Ulster), T Bowe (Ulster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G DArcy (Leinster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster), J Kelly (Munster), B Murphy (Munster), G Murphy (Leicester), B ODriscoll (Leinster), R OGara (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps). P Stringer (Shannon), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster).