Thank you all very much for your input - much appreciated. Now, let me see if I understand it all correctly:
If you want to do a multi engine IR, you must do the ME rating first as a prerequisite, if you are to fly multi engine aircraft IFR (because you are not allowed to fly multi engine aircraft without an ME rating anyway - I suppose??) Is this correct??
If you wanted to just do the SE IR, then to "upgrade" to ME IR, I would have to do the ME rating and then do a reduced???? course (not 55 hours I hope!!) then another flight test.
Doesn't seem to be much point doing a SE IR - you might as well do the ME class rating + ME IR straight off - as it seems you can excersise the privilges on SE aircraft anyway - kill two birds with one stone??
As far as saving the ATPL theory within 3 years is concerned, I suppose a SE IR will do??
How many types of IR are there? SE, ME - multi-pilot???
I thought the idea of the IR was to allow you to fly IFR in IMC, the use of VORs, ILS, SID, STAR - is it not the same for any aircraft??