How can we justify these allowances?

Michael McGrath TD said he was disappointed that the government is now only able to cut back on €2.5m in allowances paid to civil and public servants.

He argued that some senior civil servants had allowances too that should have been cut.

I agree with him on this point and ask how gardaí, prison officers and fire brigade personnel have over €100 per week for rent and meal allowances. Do they live differently to others? How can these allowances be justified?