 She was alleged to have delayed the publication of a report which showed that public opinion favoured academic selection.In March 2011, Ruane caused controversy by claiming that all pupils should be given the opportunity to study the Irish language, that education in Northern Ireland should be made more similar to that in the Republic of Ireland, and that "the debate on academic selection is now over".Director of the Governing Bodies Association, which represents Northern Irish grammar schools, John Hart, said, “I think the minister is fooling only herself in trying to convince us that the debate surrounding academic selection is over.