The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, is due in Hillsborough Castle for talks with Northern Secretary Mr John Reid today.
A Northern Ireland Office source said: "The talks are going to cover policing and security matters as well as the north-south arrangements in the [Belfast] Agreement". British government sources have played down hopes of an end to direct rule.
Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne and Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Mr Hugh Orde will also be at today's meeting.
In Washington, Sinn Féin's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, will discuss the crisis with the US special adviser on Northern Ireland, Mr Richard Haass.
Mr McGuinness said the British government's failure to implement the Belfast Agreement was at the root of the political crisis affecting Northern Ireland.
He said yesterday Sinn Féin was "in the business" of resolving the issue of all armed groups" in Northern Ireland.
However, he argued that had to be achieved through the "full and faithful implementation of the Agreement in its entirety" - including vital issues such as policing, human rights, equality and demilitarisation.
Loyalists yesterday warned the British and Irish governments that if there was any move to enhance Dublin's say over the affairs of Northern Ireland after the suspension of devolution, it would impact severely on their support for the peace process.