The Minister for Children & Youth Affairs has admitted that an 18-year-old, who died in care in 2002, had been failed by the State.
Fine Gael earlier released the confidential report into the 2002 death, and accused the Government and the HSE of trying to cover it up by not releasing it themselves.
The HSE has said that it has serious concerns about the manner in which Fine Gael released the findings.
Tracey Fay, identified in the report by her initials 'TF', died in January 2002 at the age of 18.
During her first six months in care she was accommodated in nine different places, spending 255 nights in 20 different B&Bs. She used drugs, was sexually exploited and had two pregnancies
She was found dead in January 2002 after taking heroin and ecstasy.
Fine Gael's Alan Shatter said the report showed a dysfunctional and chaotic approach taken by childcare services.
He said it was in the public interest that the report be fully published.
'It is inexcusable, in a democratic society, that the systemic failures that resulted in her death be covered up for so long.'
However, the Minister described Fine Gael's action as 'an ambush' designed to cause embarrassment.
Mr Andrews defended the delay in the official publication of the report - he said he had received it around 12 months ago, and action had been taken on its recommendations.
He said the mother of the young woman was ill and that the HSE had been trying - so far without success - to get her permission for such sensitive information to be made public.
The minister said Fine Gael's action - without the family's approval - was wrong.
Alan Shatter received the confidential report from an unidentified source, but has not revealed who the source was.
