UTS Technologies (UTS Parking)

Lobbying Organisation UTS Technologies

Date published 21 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Transport

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Ivan Yates is engaged with UTS Technologies, providing advisory and lobbying services. The engagements focused on providing analysis, data, and recommendations concerning the current regulatory framework governing cashless parking in Ireland. The purpose was to highlight barriers in the existing legislation that limit competition and restrict nationwide interoperability of cashless parking apps, and to explore approaches for enabling an open, competitive market.

Intended results The intended outcome of these communications is to influence policy and legislative decision-making in order to: 1. Facilitate amendments to existing legislation that govern the cashless parking market. 2. Create an open market framework allowing multiple apps to operate nationwide without restrictions. 3. Encourage adoption of interoperable standards to increase consumer choice and competition in the sector. 4. Identify department to champion the proposal and implement the framework.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sean Brogan

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Ivan Yates (Former DPO) Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Informal communication (1)

Ivan Yates sent a text to Peter Walsh (CEO of TII) on 08/09/25 in relation to a proposal for changing the current framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal is promoting an open market solution, replacing the current 5-year contracted approach. The communication was to establish who would be responsible for implementing such a change and overseeing the proposal within government.

Email (1)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates emailed Malcolm Byrne TD regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal advocates an open-market model to replace the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on responsibility within Government for its implementation and oversight.

Email (1)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates emailed James O'Connor TD regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal advocates an open-market model to replace the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on responsibility within Government for its implementation and oversight.

Email (2-5)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates emailed Barry Heneghan TD regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal advocates an open-market model to replace the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on responsibility within Government for its implementation and oversight.

Email (1)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates emailed Darragh O’Brien TD, Minister for Transport, regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal advocates an open-market model to replace the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on responsibility within Government for its implementation and oversight.

Email (1)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates emailed Siobhán Russell, Special Advisor in the Department of Transport, regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal promotes an open-market model to replace the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on responsibility within Government for its implementation and oversight.

Email (1)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates emailed Graham Doyle, Secretary General of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal promotes an open-market model in place of the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on responsibility within Government for its implementation and oversight.

Email (1)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates emailed Sean Canney TD regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal advocates an open-market model to replace the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on responsibility within Government for its implementation and oversight.

Email (1)

On 8 September 2025, Ivan Yates wrote to James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, regarding a proposal to reform the framework for awarding cashless parking contracts across the 31 local authorities. The proposal promotes an open-market model to replace the current five-year contracted approach and sought clarity on departmental responsibility for its implementation and oversight.

Email (2-5)

On 9 December 2025, Ivan Yates submitted a request to Barry Henaghan TD seeking an update on the progress of work within Government to implement an open-market solution for cashless parking, including the anticipated timeline for completion. This matter was subsequently raised with the Minister for Transport by way of a parliamentary question.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Barry Heneghan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Malcolm Byrne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Siobhan Russell Adviser to Minister (Department of Transport)

Graham Doyle Secretary General (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)

Sean Canney Minister of State (Department of Transport)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)

Peter Walsh Chief Executive Officer (Transport Infrastructure Ireland)