Yes Ryanair do hire fATPLs fresh off the production line with 200-300h and yes it would seem there is a freeze on recruitment of Irish pilots. I know of no Irish guys who have gotten a call in the last 18 months or so but recruitment of other nationalities steams ahead as evidenced by the interview thread here.
A RYR TRI who I know through my school has told me that he has not seen an Irish cadet through the type rating course in almost 2 years.
The reasons can only be speculated over.