The Government's workplace smoking ban is odds on to be implemented in January, bookmaker Boylesports said today.
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The bookmakers are offering gamblers odds of 1/6 for the ban to come into effect on January 1st next and odds of 10/1 for the ban being blocked.
Odds of 3/1 are available on bars and hotels to be allowed operate restricted smoking areas in 2004, and the adventurous out there can get 33/1 that controversy surrounding the ban will bring down the Government by March 2004.
Other bets on offer include: a TD to be put in jail over the ban in the first three months of implementation at 20/1 and the Dáil bar to be fined for customers smoking at 33/1.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, repeated at the weekend that the controversial ban on workplace smoking would go ahead on schedule.
Speaking at the Fianna Fáil ardfheis in Killarney Mr Ahern said: "Smoking damages the health of those who smoke - it will kill 7,500 people this year - but smoking also damages the health of those who have no choice but to work where smoking is allowed.
"So from January, smoking will no longer be allowed in the workplace - and the ban will include pubs and nightclubs."
