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Munster hooker Jerry Flannery is named in the squad despite struggling with a calf injury in recent weeks but club mate Tomas O'Leary only makes the Wolfhounds squad.
Luke Fitzgerald and Rory Best return after suffering injuries during the autumn series.
Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy is not included after breaking his foot earlier this month.
"As always, the selection of the squad is never an easy one, but certainly the level of competition in each position is probably as great as it has been over the last two years," said Ireland coach Declan Kidney.
"Players have been really pushing their performances for their provinces, so that level of competition can only be good.
"That translates into more competition for each place in the squad, and then for the first selection against Italy, which can only be a good thing coming into the championship.
"As we know from last year and every other time we have faced Italy, they represent a greater threat every year.
"The addition of their teams in the Magners League is building their experience, and I think that will have an even greater influence on their national side for the championship.
"The key for us is to work hard in setting the foundations for the tournament in our first week in camp, and our only focus will be on that opening game against Italy."
Ireland squad: Backs: T Bowe (Ospreys), G D'Arcy (Leinster), G Duffy (Connacht), K Earls (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), R O' Gara (Munster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), E Reddan (Leinster), J Sexton (Leinster), P Stringer (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster).
Forwards: R Best (Ulster), T Court (Ulster), S Cronin (Connacht), L Cullen (Leinster), S Ferris (Ulster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), D Leamy (Munster), M McCarthy (Connacht), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S O'Brien (Leinster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), M Ross (Leinster), R Ruddock (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster).
