The state body responsible for political ethics is to face a major overhaul, under new laws to be brought to cabinet next week.

The Standards in Public Office Commission will be replaced by a new single entity to cover both politicians and government staff, at both national and local levels.

Laws to set up the new Public Service Standards Commission (PSSC) are to go to cabinet next week in its last meeting before Christmas.

The move follows regular calls from the outgoing SIPO Commission for a single national public ethics system, echoing comments from some politicians that the current patchwork of ethics rules and systems is confusing.

News of the new regulator came at the end of a day of outcry after last night's RTE documentary on the ethics of some county councillors.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dail there was no place for the sort of behaviour seen in the documentary:

However one of the councillors who featured in the documentary is now threatening legal action against RTE.

Independent Donegal councillor John O'Doherty says the covert filming was a breach of his privacy - and accused RTE of selecting footage to suit a sensationalist agenda.

His appearance in the documentary is being investigated by Donegal County Council - while Sligo County Council has begun its own inquiry into the appearance of Joe Queenan, who's resigned from Fianna Fáil but remains on the council.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has accused the other major parties of allowing political culture to become toxic - while the tactics used by RTE in the documentary have also come under criticism.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: