Gordon Brown is due in Belfast to meet politicians threatening to bring down the power-sharing agreement and throw the system into crisis.
The PM holds talks with party leaders at Stormont over security powers as negotiations continue to resurrect Thursday's scheduled ministerial Executive meeting.
The Executive has not met since June because of a Sinn Fein protest over the failure to devolve policing and justice to a local minister.
Republicans are also angry at the lack of progress on an Irish language act and plans for a multi-sports stadium near Belfast.
Sinn Fein and majority coalition partners the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have been locked in negotiations in an attempt to resolve the impasse.
The DUP is calling for business to be resumed to help thousands of people affected by the credit crunch and rising prices but has opposed immediate transfer of policing and justice.
Mr Brown will meet DUP First Minister Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, and the five party leaders, and will address MLAs during his short visit to Stormont.
On Monday, Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward published a survey showing that most people support devolving policing and justice powers to Northern Ireland within the next year.
Polling showed 58% backed handing down security powers from Westminster.
Mr Woodward's Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has consistently pressed for the move, even though a deadline of last May was missed.
