Plus 1 to Thirsty's post.
"If my husband decides to now suddenly engage, can he halt the above, and we're into the long drawn out case progression hearings etc pathway? "
Maybe he just does not care enough to engage at any level?
You're into a long drawn out process anyway- Covid has knocked the court lists back months, if not years.
If somebody wants to act the maggot, they will. Many of my cases are done by agreement - current settlements are being given dates for online hearing in Dublin.
The difficult ones, where there is resistance or maggoty behaviour- usually a combination of both- are delighted with the Covid Court closures.
As I say, if they did not want to play nice with me before, they have no intention of doing it until we have a degree of normality and the pressure of a Court date looming.
Be guided by your solicitor.
mf