The Progressive Democrats are expected to name Mr John Higgins today as their general secretary. Mr Higgins is a brother of Mr Jim Higgins, Fine Gael's spokesman on justice, writes Maol Muire Tynan. The appointment is seen within the party as crucial to its revival following a decline in electoral support. It secured only 2 per cent of the vote in the recent Cork South Central by-election, trailing behind Sinn Fein.