Every other year you can renew in the sim, so you could renew the IR without the MEP.
If it expired you would have to do it in the aircraft.
Not sure if it was just company policy, but my airline required valid MEP and IR at the start of the type rating (they could expire during the course). You definitely need a current IR to start a type rating, just not sure if it was just our company asking for a valid MEP too.
Last edited by RTN11; 23rd Jan 2014 at 08:23.