The Government is seeking 50 skilled professionals to make up a Rapid Response Corps that would be available at 72 hours notice to carry out humanatarian operations worldwide.
Individual experts from the 50-strong corps will be deployed for periods of up to three months to assist in the humanitarian response efforts of three of Ireland's UN partner agencies.
Speaking today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, said the international community had learned from the Asian tsunami in 2004 that time was critical in saving lives.
"We need people with specific skills and experience, who are available at short notice to fill critical gaps in the UN's humanitarian agencies. Ireland today steps forward with a frontline initiative that I believe could mean the difference between life and death for victims of international disasters," he said.
Minister for State for Irish Aid Conor Lenihan said recruitment advertisements for the Rapid Response Corps would be placed in the national press from tomorrow.
"Irish Aid aims to recruit logisticians, IT experts, engineers, environmental specialists, humanitarian and public information specialists and public health officers," he said.
A sum of €5 million has been earmarked for the project with all training provided by the State. The volunteers will receive an allowance during their service, but their employers in Ireland will not be compensated for the time they are volunteering.
Mr Ahern said private sector employers had been "very supportive" of the corps.
It is envisaged the Rapid Response Corps will be ready to deploy by the second half of this year.