Since POE::Component::IRC::Plugin uses POE, you get all of POE's features "for free". This includes POE::Kernel's delay() method, which can be used to create a one-shot timer. For repeating timers, your one-shot handler should call delay() again to set up a new timer.

The first example at http://poe.perl.org/?POE_Cookbook/Recurring_Alarms should get you started.