jpboy -Thank you for the reply. I have a JAA CPL so I'm pretty sure I have to just meet the normal prerequisites when I do a MPA ME IR(A) to upgrade to an ATPL.
As an aside I have always believed that making it easier for a QSP to get a licence does not mean everyone would than leave the service. To the contrary, when you have a licence or the ability to get one easily, there is no urgency to use it but you have it just in case. If you have to rush & work hard yourself to get and pay for the licence, you might as well use it before it lapses and you incur more expenses revalidating it. But that is for another thread.
Thanks again jpboy.